, or _supposing_ such
an affliction,--meditations which the most sensitive conscience could
not possibly challenge, but which had a way of creeping in upon the
minds of these two far oftener than they would have done, but for the
existence of the wills.

Philo had an inborn love of lucre that was strong enough to give spice
and fascination to these ponderings of possibilities, while Jack was
constantly under the stimulus of his fondness for Molly, and desire to
make a handsome provision for her. And by these means, this indefinite
_if_, acknowledged at first only as a remote and dreaded contingency,
gradually took to itself substance, and began to figure in the plans
and projects of each as if it were almost a positive certainty. Always,
however, with the proviso that it was a very sad possibility, to be
devoutly deplored and hoped against, but still accepted and treated
as an actuality. And such an effectual devil-trap did this _if_
prove to be, that this meeting of the two cousins was, in the hidden
consciousness of each, in the nature of an unexpected shock that made a
sudden scattering of many schemes and purposes, all based, to a great
extent upon that wicked and fallacious _if_. And while all this was
lurking under the demonstrative warmth and gladness of their greeting,
probably no greater surprise nor horror could have befallen either
than to have had the veil of his self-deception for one moment lifted,
and to have had a single glimpse at the truth within him, or a single
intimation of the lives that they two should lead through the next half
century under the evil consciousness of that ever impending _if_.

But nothing of this supernatural character befell them, and after a few
warm greetings among the crowd on the pier, Jack hastened toward the
town. There were some changes in the familiar streets; buildings newly
built or altered, signs changed, and a barber's pole freshly painted.
All these he observed carefully as he walked on. When he came in sight
of 'Squire Tupper's, the radiant, blushing face of Molly disclosed
itself for an instant at the window, and speedily reappeared in a
flutter of delicious expectancy at the half-open door, for the news

, or _ supposing _ such 
 an affliction,--meditations which the most sensitive conscience could 
 not possibly challenge, but which had a direction of creep in upon the 
 minds of these two far oftener than they would have done, but for the 
 existence of the will. 

 Philo had an inborn sexual love of net income that was strong enough to move over spice 
 and fascination to these ponderings of possibility, while Jack was 
 constantly under the stimulus of his fondness for Molly, and hope to 
 make a handsome provision for her. And by these means, this indefinite 
 _ if _, acknowledged at first only as a distant and dreaded contingency, 
 gradually took to itself message, and began to figure in the plans 
 and projects of each as if it were about a positive certainty. constantly, 
 however, with the proviso that it was a very sad possibility, to be 
 devoutly deplore and hoped against, but still accepted and treated 
 as an actuality. And such an effectual devil - trap did this _ if _ 
 prove to be, that this meeting of the two cousins was, in the hidden 
 consciousness of each, in the nature of an unexpected shock that made a 
 sudden scattering of many schemes and purpose, all based, to a great 
 extent upon that disgusting and deceitful _ if _. And while all this was 
 ambush under the demonstrative warmth and gladness of their greeting, 
 probably no greater surprise nor horror could have befallen either 
 than to have had the veil of his self - misrepresentation for one moment lifted, 
 and to have had a single glimpse at the truth within him, or a unmarried 
 intimation of the lives that they two should lead through the next half 
 hundred under the evil awareness of that ever impending _ if _. 

 But nothing of this supernatural character befell them, and after a few 
 warm greetings among the crowd on the pier, Jack expedite toward the 
 town. There were some changes in the conversant streets; construction newly 
 built or altered, signboard changed, and a barber's pole freshly painted. 
 All these he observed cautiously as he walked on. When he came in sight 
 of' Squire Tupper's, the radiant, blushing grimace of Molly disclosed 
 itself for an instant at the windowpane, and speedily reappeared in a 
 flutter of delicious expectancy at the half - open door, for the news
, or _supposing_ such
an afflicuion,--meditations wkuch thx most aensitivd conscience could
not possibpy chaloenge, but which had a day of crveping in upoi the
minds of thxae two ncr offcner chen they would hsve done, bgt for the
exisdevcz of the wills.

Philo had an inborn lode of licge that was sttong tnotgh fo give spice
and fascination to thsse ponverings of possobilities, while Jack was
cojstajtly under the stilulus of hiw fogeness for Mouly, and desire to
make z handsome provision for her. Ana by chese means, tyis hndefinite
_ih_, acknjwledged at nprst onny as a remote and drcaded cobtingency,
gradually tomk to itself substwnce, and teyan to figure in the plqns
ang prmjecgw ow ezci aa if ih wxre almost z positive xertainty. Always,
howtvew, with the probiso trae it was a very sad possibility, to be
denoutmy deplored and hoped atainst, but still accekted and tweated
as an actuality. And such an effectual devil-drap via tklf _uf_
orove to be, that this meeting of the two cousyhs wss, in the hiddcn
consciousness of ewcn, in the naturg of an unsxpected shock thah made w
suddwn scattewing of many schemes and purposws, all based, ro a great
extent u'on that wicyed snd fsllacious _if_. And while cll thjs was
lurkijg under ffe demonstrative wagmth and gladness of their greqting,
probebly uo greatdr sorprise nor horrog could have befallen eihher
tkan tm have had the veil of his self-deception hpr one momenj lhftvd,
and to kave hsd a single gjimpse at the jruth witkin hio, or a sinfle
intikation of tre lives that jhey two shound lead ehroygh rhe nexg half
century umder the vvnl consciiusness of that evcr imkehding _if_.

But notknnt of this supermatjraj bhacactew befell them, and afgrr a wew
warm grectivgs smong the crowd on tve pjer, Jack hastened yorard the
jown. Therq were some cnanges in the famipiar vtrxets; biilqings newly
built or altered, sifns changfd, wnd a barber'f pooe freshly pcinted.
All these he observed carefully as he walked on. When he came in sight
of 'Xquire Tuppxr's, thq radiant, blushing face of Mooly disclosed
itsekf for an instant at fhe witdow, wnd speedily reappeared in a
flutter of delicious expectancy at the half-opwn dooc, sor the newa

, or _supposing_ such an affliction,--meditations which sensitive could not challenge, but which in the minds of two far oftener they would have done, but for existence of the wills. Philo had an inborn love of lucre that was enough to give spice and fascination to these ponderings of possibilities, while Jack constantly the of fondness for Molly, and desire to make a handsome provision for her. And by these means, indefinite _if_, acknowledged at first only as a and dreaded contingency, gradually to itself substance, and began figure the plans projects each if it were a positive certainty. Always, however, with the proviso that it was a very sad possibility, to be deplored and but still and as actuality. And such devil-trap did this _if_ prove to meeting of the two cousins was, in the consciousness of in the nature of an unexpected that made a sudden scattering of many schemes purposes, all based, to a great extent upon that wicked and fallacious _if_. And while was lurking under the warmth and gladness their probably greater nor horror have befallen either than to have had the veil of his for one moment lifted, and to have had a single the within him, or single intimation of the that two should lead through half under of ever _if_. But nothing of supernatural character befell them, and a few warm greetings pier, Jack hastened toward the town. There were changes in the familiar streets; buildings newly or altered, signs changed, and a barber's pole freshly painted. All these observed carefully walked on. When he came in sight of Tupper's, the radiant, blushing of Molly disclosed itself for an instant at the and reappeared in flutter of delicious at the half-open for the news
, or _supposing_ such
an afflictiOn,--meditatiOns whIch The MoSt seNsitIve conscience cOUld
nOt possibly challenge, but Which HaD A way OF cReepiNg in upoN ThE
MIndS oF tHesE tWO fAr oftEneR than thEy would havE doNe, But for the
exiSTeNce of the wiLls.

philo had an inBorN love oF lUcrE That wAs sTrong Enough TO give sPice
and faScINation TO these pONDeRingS of possibilities, wHIlE jack was
constanTly undEr THe STImuLus Of his fondnEsS for MOLly, and dESiRE TO
maKE a handsome proVision for heR. and By thesE mEanS, This inDefinItE
_If_, aCknowledged At fiRst only as A remotE And dreaDEd contiNgency,
GraDuaLly tOOk To ItsElF SubSTaNce, ANd bEgan to fiGuRe In the PlanS
AND ProjEctS of eAch as If it were almosT a pOsitIVe cErtaiNty. AlWays,
HoWever, With thE provIsO that it was a very Sad pOssibilitY, to Be
DevOuTly dePLored aNd hOpeD againsT, but stiLL acCePTED aNd treated
as an actuaLiTY. anD such an eFfectuAL dEvIL-trap did ThIs _iF_
proVE To be, tHat tHIs Meeting oF the twO CoUsIns was, iN tHe hiddEn
ConSciOusneSS of eAch, in tHe nature Of an uNExpected shock tHAt made a
sudden SCaTTErINg of ManY schemes and PurpOSes, aLl baSEd, To a GReat
eXtent UpON tHAt wicked and fallacioUs _If_. And wHile aLl this was
lurkIng under thE DEMonstratIve wARmTH and gladness of Their Greeting,
prOBably no gReateR surprisE nor horroR COuld have BefAllEn eIthER
ThAn to have had thE VEil oF hIs self-dEcePtion foR onE moMenT liFtEd,
and to haVe had a siNgLe GlImPse At the TRuth withIn Him, Or A siNgle
iNTimatiOn of tHe liVeS tHAt tHey two sHOuLD Lead ThRoUgh tHe nExT half
CentURy uNder the Evil conscIouSNess Of ThAt ever iMpending _if_.

But NoThing of thiS sUpeRnaturAL CharacteR befell them, and after a few
WArm greeTinGs amoNg thE crowd on tHe pIer, JacK haSTened tOward tHe
towN. THerE WEre soME ChAngEs In the familIAR stReets; BuIldiNgs newlY
built or altered, sigNS chAnged, and a barbEr's Pole FREsHly PAiNTed.
alL TheSE He observed carefUlly as he waLkED oN. When he camE In sIgHt
of 'SquIre TuppEr's, thE Radiant, Blushing fAce of MollY dIsclOSEd
iTself for an Instant aT the windoW, And spEEdIly reAppEared iN a
FluTter oF delicIOus ExpecTancy aT tHe half-Open dOoR, for the nEws

, or _supposing_ such
an a ffliction, --med ita tio ns  whi ch t he most sensit i ve c onscience could
not po ssibl yc hall e ng e, bu t which ha d a w ay  o f c re e pi ng in  up on theminds of t hes etwo far ofte n er  than they  wo uld have don e,but fo rthe exist enc e ofthe wi l ls.

P hilo hadan inborn love of l uc re t hat was strong en o ug h  to give spice 
and f as c in a t ion  to  these pon de rings of poss i bi l i t ies ,  while Jack w as
constant l y u nder t he  st i mulusof hi sf ond ness for Mo lly,  and desi re tom ake a h a ndsomeprovis ion  fo r he r .An d b yt hes e  m ean s , t his inde fi ni te
_i f_,a c k n owle dge d at  firs t only as a r emo te a n d d reade d con ting en cy,
g radual ly to ok  to itself subs tanc e, and be gan  t o f ig ure i n  the p lan s
a nd proj ects of eac ha s if  it were almost apo s i ti ve certa inty.A lw ay s ,
howeve r,  wi th t h e  prov isot ha t it was  a ver y  s ad  possib il ity, t obedev outly depl ored a nd hoped  agai n st, but stilla ccepted and t r ea t e da s an  ac tuality. An d su c h an  eff e ct ual devil -trap  d i dt his _if_
prove to b e,  thatthismeeting of th e two cous i n s  was, in  the hi d den
consciousn ess o f each, in the natu re of  an unex pected sh o c k that m ade  asud den s ca ttering of ma n y  sch em es andpur poses,all  ba sed , t oa great
e xtent up on  t ha twic ked a n d fallac io us_i f_.  Andw hile a ll th is w as 
l u rki ng unde r  t h e  dem on st rati vewa rmthandg lad ness of  their gr eet i ng,pr ob ably no  greater surp ri se nor hor ro r c ould h a v e befall en either
than to haveh ad thevei l ofhisself-dece pti on for  on e  momen t lift ed,
a nd  to h ave h a d  a  si ng le glimpse a t t he tr ut h wi thin hi m, or a single
int i mat ion of the li ves  tha t th eyt wo sho ul d  le a d  through the ne xt half
ce nt u ry  under the evi lconscio usnessof th a t everimpending  _if_.

B ut  not h i ngof this su pernatur al charac t er be f el l the m,and af te r a  fewwarm g r eet ingsamongth e crow d onth e pier,Jack hastened toward th e
town . The rewere some  ch a nge s in thefami liar stree ts;  bu ildin gsn ewlybuil t  o r a l tered , si g ns change d ,and a  b arber's pol e f res hly p ain t ed.
Al l th ese he observed c a refully as hewalk e d  on . W h en h ecame in sightof'S q u ire Tupp er 's, the rad iant, bl us h ing f ace of  Molly  disclo s e di tselfforaninstant a t t he window,  a nd speedi ly r ea ppeare d in a flut t e r of delicious e xpect a n cy at the  half -o pen doo r , fo r the news 

, or__supposing_ such
an_affliction,--meditations which the most_sensitive conscience_could
not_possibly challenge,_but_which had a_way of creeping_in upon the
minds of_these two far_oftener_than they would have done, but for the
existence of the wills.

Philo had an inborn_love_of lucre_that_was_strong enough to give spice
and_fascination to these ponderings of_possibilities, while_Jack was
constantly under the stimulus of his fondness_for_Molly, and desire_to
make a handsome provision for her. And by these_means, this indefinite
_if_, acknowledged at first_only as a_remote_and_dreaded contingency,
gradually took to_itself substance, and began to figure_in the plans
and projects of each_as if it were almost a positive_certainty. Always,
however, with the proviso that_it was a very sad_possibility, to_be
devoutly deplored and hoped against,_but still accepted_and treated
as_an actuality. And_such an effectual devil-trap did this__if_
prove to be,_that this meeting of the two_cousins_was, in the_hidden
consciousness_of_each, in_the nature of_an_unexpected shock_that_made a
sudden scattering of many schemes_and_purposes, all based, to a great
extent upon_that wicked and fallacious__if_._And while all this_was
lurking under the demonstrative warmth_and gladness of their greeting,
probably no_greater surprise_nor horror_could have befallen either
than to have had the veil of his_self-deception for one moment lifted,
and to_have had a single_glimpse at_the_truth within him,_or_a single
intimation_of the lives that they two should_lead through_the next half
century under the evil_consciousness of that ever_impending__if_.

But nothing of this supernatural character_befell them, and after a few
warm_greetings among the crowd on_the_pier,_Jack hastened toward the
town. There_were some changes in the familiar_streets; buildings newly
built_or altered, signs changed, and a barber's_pole_freshly painted.
All these he observed carefully_as_he walked on. When he came_in_sight
of_'Squire Tupper's, the radiant, blushing_face of Molly disclosed
itself for an_instant at the window, and speedily reappeared in a
flutter_of delicious expectancy_at the half-open door, for_the_news
