church, where, unseen by his beloved, though his eyes were fixed upon hers, he might indulge that ecstasy, the idea of which had only a few days before prevented him from putting a desperate end to his existence. As the thanksgiving was repeating, her cheeks glowed, her eyes were suffused with joy, and she had such difficulty to conceal her raptures, that no one could misinterpret their subsequent meeting in the church, which was so truly expressive.
Henceforward Frank showed himself upon change, and entered into business. His transactions were equally fortunate; his growing affluence excited the envy of his fellow-citizens, who declared that he must have been more lucky than wise, to become rich by collecting old debts. He engaged a noble mansion opposite Sir Roland’s statue in the great square; he hired clerks and domestics, and applied with great assiduity to trade. The despicable race of parasites again flocked around him, expecting to be again admitted to a share in his prosperity; but wiser by experience and adversity, he only made them civil speeches in return, allowing them to go empty-handed away. This he found to be a sovereign remedy for freeing himself from their company; he never asked them to dinner, and they returned no more.
Frank now became the topic of the day in the
