He must have
given her this now.'
Mark Tapley knew as well that she had bought it, to the end that that
unconscious speaker might carry some article of sterling value with him
in his necessity; as he knew that it was day, and not night. Though he
had no more acquaintance of his own knowledge with the history of the
glittering trinket on Martin's outspread finger, than Martin himself
had, he was as certain that in its purchase she had expended her whole
stock of hoarded money, as if he had seen it paid down coin by coin. Her
lover's strange obtuseness in relation to this little incident, promptly
suggested to Mark's mind its real cause and root; and from that moment
he had a clear and perfect insight into the one absorbing principle of
Martin's character.
'She is worthy of the sacrifices I have made,' said Martin, folding his
arms, and looking at the ashes in the stove, as if in resumption of some
former thoughts. 'Well worthy of them. No riches'--here he stroked his
chin and mused--'could have compensated for the loss of such a nature.
Not to mention that in gaining her affection I have followed the bent
of my own wishes, and baulked the selfish schemes of others who had
no right to form them.
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