CHAPTER II

asprovedtohavemuchtheworstofthebargainforwhenhiswifedied,afterathreeyears’marriage,hewasratherapoorermanthanatfirst,andwithachildtomaintain.Fromtheexpenseofthechild,however,hewassoonrelieved.Theboyhad,withtheadditionalsofteningclaimofalingeringillnessofhismother’s,beenthemeansofasortofreconciliationandMr.andMrs.Churchill,havingnochildrenoftheirown,noranyotheryoungcreatureofequalkindredtocarefor,offeredtotakethewholechargeofthelittleFranksoonafterherdecease.Somescruplesandsomereluctancethewidower-fathermaybesupposedtohavefeltbutastheywereovercomebyotherconsiderations,thechildwasgivenuptothecareandthewealthoftheChurchills,andhehadonlyhisowncomforttoseek,andhisownsituationtoimproveashecould. Acompletechangeoflifebecamedesirable.Hequittedthemilitiaandengagedintrade,havingbrothersalreadyestablishedinagoodwayinLondon,whichaffordedhimafavourableopening.Itwasaconcernwhichbroughtjustemploymentenough.HehadstillasmallhouseinHighbury,wheremostofhisleisuredayswerespentandbetweenusefuloccupationandthepleasuresofsociety,thenexteighteenortwentyyearsofhislifepassedcheerfullyaway.Hehad,bythattime,realisedaneasycompetence—enoughtosecurethepurchaseofalittleestateadjoiningHighbury,whichhehadalwayslongedfor—enoughtomarryawomanasportionlessevenasMissTaylor,andtoliveaccordingtothewishesofhisownfriendlyandsocialdisposition. ItwasnowsometimesinceMissTaylorhadbeguntoinfluencehisschemesbutasitwasnotthetyrannicinfluenceofyouthonyouth,ithadnotshakenhisdeterminationofneversettlingtillhecouldpurchaseRandalls,andthesaleofRandallswaslonglookedforwardtobuthehadgonesteadilyon,withtheseobjectsinview,tilltheywereaccomplished.Hehadmadeh