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his station； his pursuits； his happy marriage； and his eight
pictures in their handsome frames。 Formerly the sober Mervale
had commanded an influence over his friend： HIS had been the
sarcasm； Glyndon's the irresolute shame at his own peculiarities。
Now this position was reversed。 There was a fierce earnestness
in Glyndon's altered temper which awed and silenced the quiet
commonplace of his friend's character。 He seemed to take a
malignant delight in persuading himself that the sober life of
the world was contemptible and base。
〃Ah！〃 he exclaimed； 〃how right you were to tell me to marry
respectably； to have a solid position； to live in decorous fear
of the world and one's wife； and to command the envy of the poor；
the good opinion of the rich。 You have practised what you
preach。 Delicious existence！ The merchant's desk and the
curtain lecture！ Ha！ ha！ Shall we have another night of it？〃
Mervale； embarrassed and irritated； turned the conversation upon
Glyndon's affairs。 He was surprised at the knowledge of the
world which the artist seemed to have suddenly acquired；
surprised still more at the acuteness and energy with which he
spoke of the speculations most in vogue at the market。 Yes；
Glyndon was certainly in earnest： he desired to be rich and
respectable；and to make at least ten per cent for his money！
After spending some days with the merchant； during which time he
contrived to disorganise all the mechanism of the house； to turn
night into day； harmony into discord； to drive poor Mrs。 Mervale
half…distracted； and to convince her husband that he was horribly
hen…pecked； the ill…omened visitor left them as suddenly as he
had arrived。 He took a house of his own； he sought the society
of persons of substance； he devoted himself to the money…market；
he seemed to have become a man of business； his schemes were bold
and colossal； his calculations rapid and profound。 He startled
Mervale by his energy； and dazzled him by his success。 Mervale
began to envy him；to be discontented with his own regular and
slow gains。 When Glyndon bought or sold in the funds； wealth
rolled upon him like the tide of a sea； what years of toil could
not have done for him in art； a few months； by a succession of
lucky chances； did for him in speculation。 Suddenly； however； he
relaxed his exertions； new objects of ambition seemed to attract
him。 If he heard a drum in the streets； what glory like the
soldier's？ If a new poem were published； what renown like the
poet's？ He began works in literature； which promised great
excellence； to throw them aside in disgust。 All at once he
abandoned the decorous and formal society he had courted； he
joined himself； with young and riotous associates； he plunged
into the wildest excesses of the great city； where Gold reigns
alike over Toil and Pleasure。 Through all he carried with him a
certain power and heat of soul。 In all society he aspired to
command；in all pursuits to excel。 Yet whatever the passion of
the moment； the reaction was terrible in its gloom。 He sank； at
times； into the most profound and the darkest reveries。 His
fever was that of a mind that would escape memory；his repose；
that of a mind which the memory seizes again； and devours as a
prey。 Mervale now saw little of him； they shunned each other。
Glyndon had no confidant； and no friend。
CHAPTER 5。IV。
Ich fuhle Dich mir nahe；
Die Einsamkeit belebt；
Wie uber seinen Welten
Der Unsichtbare schwebt。
Uhland。
（I feel thee near to me；
The loneliness takes life；
As over its world
The Invisible hovers。）
From this state of restlessness and agitation rather than
continuous action； Glyndon was aroused by a visitor who seemed to
exercise the most salutary influence over him。 His sister； an
orphan with himself； had resided in the country with her aunt。
In the early years of hope and home he had loved this girl； much
younger than himself； with all a brother's tenderness。 On his
return to England； he had seemed to forget her existence。 She
recalled herself to him on her aunt's death by a touching and
melancholy letter： she had now no home but his；no dependence
save on his affection； he wept when he read it； and was impatient
till Adela arrived。
This girl； then about eighteen； concerned beneath a gentle and
calm exterior much of the romance or enthusiasm that had； at her
own age； characterised her brother。 But her enthusiasm was of a
far purer order； and was restrained within proper bounds； partly
by the sweetness of a very feminine nature； and partly by a
strict and methodical education。 She differed from him
especially in a timidity of character which exceeded that usual
at her age； but which the habit of self…command concealed no less
carefully than that timidity itself concealed the romance I have
ascribed to her。
Adela was not handsome： she had the complexion and the form of
delicate health； and too fine an organisation of the nerves
rendered her susceptible to every impression that could influence
the health of the frame through the sympathy of the mind。 But as
she never complained； and as the singular serenity of her manners
seemed to betoken an equanimity of temperament which； with the
vulgar； might have passed for indifference； her sufferings had so
long been borne unnoticed that it ceased to be an effort to
disguise them。 Though； as I have said； not handsome； her
countenance was interesting and pleasing； and there was that
caressing kindness； that winning charm about her smile； her
manners； her anxiety to please； to comfort； and to soothe which
went at once to the heart； and made her lovely；because so
loving。
Such was the sister whom Glyndon had so long neglected； and whom
he now so cordially welcomed。 Adela had passed many years a
victim to the caprices； and a nurse to the maladies； of a selfish
and exacting relation。 The delicate and generous and respectful
affection of her brother was no less new to her than delightful。
He took pleasure in the happiness he created； he gradually weaned
himself from other society； he felt the charm of home。 It is not
surprising； then； that this young creature； free and virgin from
every more ardent attachment； concentrated all her grateful love
on this cherished and protecting relative。 Her study by day； her
dream by night； was to repay him for his affection。 She was
proud of his talents； devoted to his welfare； the smallest trifle
that could interest him swelled in her eyes to the gravest
affairs of life。 In short； all the long…hoarded enthusiasm；
which was her perilous and only heritage； she invested in this
one object of her holy tenderness； her pure ambition。
But in proportion as Glyndon shunned those excitements by which
he had so long sought to occupy his time or distract his
thoughts； the gloom of his calmer hours became deeper and more
continuous。 He ever and especially dreaded to be alone