Inhaltsangabe
This historic book may have numerous typos or missing text. Not indexed. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1861. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... DOUBLE DEALING. Mr. Braybrook was one of those easygoing individuals who, being fortunate enough to have a straight path cut out and made smooth for them by others, travel, or rather glide, through life without the trouble of much thought or exertion. In fact, he held an appointment in one of the Government offices, where he had risen gradually; not by any efforts of his own, but merely by stepping into the shoes left vacant by the death or promotion of those above him, until he had reached a post to which was attached a salary of one thousand pounds a-year; and, according to the general rule, his duties became lighter as his emoluments increased, which appears to be a very equitable arrangement in all offices of every description; since it is clear that if one man has heavy duties and light pay, another light duties and heavy pay, the weight of the professional burthen is equally balanced. Now one thousand a year, though a large salary, is but a moderate income, after all, for a man who is blessed with a wife given to fashionable attire, a daughter of a marriageable age, and four younger scions of the house, whose boarding school bills form no small item in the annual expenses; consequently, Miss Braybrook, although very handsome and very accomplished, wanted the one great charm which, in this degenerate age, is apt to outshine all other attractions. In short, she had no fortune, and it was probably owing to this deficiency that at two and twenty she was Miss Braybrook still, with the fear before her eyes of holding that title in perpetuity--a possession she by no means wished to retain for so long a period, being, in point of fact, already tired of it. At length a brighter prospect opened upon her view, with bridal cake and orange blossoms in the distanc...
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