poor?  The trick answered.  The world was not surprised, but satisfied.  There was but one opinion.  He deserved it all, and more.  The only wonder was, that he had hitherto lived so quietly, rich as he was, in virtue of his wife’s inheritance, and from his own hard-earned gains.  His increasing business still enlarged.  Customers brought guests, and, in their turn, the guests became good customers.  It was a splendid mansion, with its countless rooms and gorgeous appointments.  What pleasure-grounds—­gardens—­parks—­preserves!  Noble establishment, with its butler, under-butler, upper-servant, and my lady’s (so the working people called poor Margaret) footman!  In truth, a palace; but, alas! although it took a prince’s revenue to maintain it, and although the lady’s purse was draining fast to keep it and the bank upon its legs, yet was there not a corner, a nook, a hole in the building, in which master or mistress could find an hour’s comfort, or a night’s unmingled sleep.  As for the devoted woman, it made very little difference to her whether she dwelt in a castle or a hovel, provided she could see her husband cheerful, and know that he was happy.  This was all she looked for—­cared for—­lived for. He was her life.  What was her money—­the dross which mankind yearned after—­but for its use to him, but for the power it might exercise amongst men to elevate and ennoble him?  What was her palace but a dungeon if it rendered her beloved more miserable than ever, if it added daily to the troubles he had brought there—­to the cares which had accumulated on his head from the very hour she had become his mate?  Michael Allcraft! you never deserved this woman for your wife; you told her so many times, and perhaps you meant what was wrung from your heart in its anguish.  It was the truth.  Why, if not in rank cowardice and pitiful ambition, entangle yourself in the perplexities of such a household with all that heap of woe already on your soul?  Why, when your London agents refused, in consequence of your irregularity and neglect, to advance your further loans—­why take a base advantage of that heroic generosity that placed its all, unquestioning, at your command?  Why, when you pretended with so much ceremony and regard, to effect an insurance on your worthless life, did you fail to pay up the policy even for a second year, and so resign all claim and right to such assurance, making it null and void?  Let it stand here recorded to your disgrace, that, in the prosecution of your views, in the working out of your insane ambition, no one single thought of her, who gave her wealth as freely as ever fount poured forth its liberal stream, deterred you in your progress for an instant; that no one glow or gush of feeling towards the fond and faithful wife interposed to save her from the consequences of your selfishness, and to humble you with shame for inhumanity as vile as it was undeserved.  It is not surprising, that after the taking of the great