There was a knock
at the door.
"Come in," said Gerard. And there came in Mr Hatton.
They had not met since Gerard's release from York Castle.
There Hatton had visited him, had exercised his influence to
remedy his grievances, and had more than once offered him the
means of maintenance on receiving his freedom. There were
moments of despondency when Gerard had almost wished that the
esteem and regard with which Sybil looked upon Hatton might
have matured into sentiments of a deeper nature; but on this
subject the father had never breathed a word. Nor had Hatton,
except to Gerard, ever intimated his wishes, for we could
scarcely call them hopes. He was a silent suitor of Sybil,
watching opportunities and ready to avail himself of
circumstances which he worshipped. His sanguine disposition,
fed by a very suggestive and inventive mind, and stimulated by
success and a prosperous life, sustained him always to the
last. Hatton always believed that everything desirable must
happen if a man had energy and watched circumstances. He had
confidence too in the influence of his really insinuating
manner; his fine taste, his tender tone, his ready sympathy,
all which masked his daring courage and absolute recklessness
of means.
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