"As long as Bella knows nothing of the matter, it will not trouble me." With that he opened the door, and came into the room where his bride sat entirely unsuspicious of his intentions, or of the way in which her own innocent words had been made use of.
What Magdalen Scott had said of Doctor Morton on his wedding-day was perfectly true--he was a hard man.

Not cruel or unjust, but keen and hard.

He did no wrong to any one.

He could even be liberal and considerate in his dealings with those who could not wrong him; but he had neither forbearance nor mercy for those who defrauded him in any way whatever of his rights.

He was fond of his wife, being his wife, but if she had been poor he would never have thought of marrying her.