Tall and slightly made, with a proud and gentlemanly carriage, he looked well though dressed in the most homely and unfashionable garb.  Beyond scrupulous cleanliness he paid little attention to the mysteries of the toilet, for even in the bloom of youth, “Gallio cared for none of those things.”  In spite of the disadvantages of dress, his bright brown complexion, straight features, dark glancing eyes, and rich curling hair, gave him a striking appearance.  By many he was considered eminently handsome; to those accustomed to read the mind in the face, Mark Hurdlestone’s countenance was everything but prepossessing.

The sunshine of a smiling heart never illumined the dark depth of those deep-seated cunning eyes; and those of his own kin, who most wished to entertain a favorable opinion of the young heir of Oak Hall, agreed in pronouncing him a very disagreeable selfish young man.

He hated society, was shy and reserved in his manners, and never spoke on any subject without his opinion was solicited.  This extraordinary taciturnity, in one who possessed no ordinary powers of mind, gave double weight to all that he advanced, till what he said became a law in the family.  Even his mother, with whom he was no favorite, listened with profound attention to his shrewd biting remarks.  From his father, Mark early imbibed a love of hoarding; and his favorite studies, those in which he most excelled, and which appeared almost intuitive to him, were those connected with figures.  The old Squire, who idolised his handsome sullen boy, was never weary of boasting of his abilities, and his great knowledge in mathematics and algebra.

“Aye,” he would exclaim, “that lad was born to make a fortune; not merely to keep one ready made.  ’Tis a thousand pities that he is not a poor man’s son; I would bet half my estate, that if he lives to my age he will be the richest man in England.”

Having settled this matter in his own way, the old Squire took much pains to impress upon the boy’s mind that poverty was the most dreadful of all evils—­that, if he wished to stand well with the world, riches alone could effect that object, and ensure the respect and homage of his fellow-men.  “Wealth,” he was wont jocosely to say, “would do all but carry him to heaven,”—­and how the journey thither was to be accomplished, never disturbed the thoughts of the rich man.

Courted and flattered by those beneath him, Mark found his father’s precepts borne out by experience, and he quickly adopted his advice, and entered with alacrity into all his money-getting speculations.

The handsome income allowed him by the Squire was never expended in the pursuit of pleasures natural to his rank and age, but carefully invested in the funds, whilst the young miser relied upon the generosity of his mother to find him in clothes and pocket-money.  When Mrs. Hurdlestone remonstrated with him on his meanness, his father would laugh and bid her hold her tongue.