It
was sure, he felt, from one or the other.
Being of a naturally generous disposition, with strong affections, and
having not a little of the natural sense of justice in his composition,
he was decidedly in favor of permitting the niece to enrich him. This
was his personal preference; but he was sensible of the truth of the
axiom, that individual preferences must sometimes be sacrificed to the
success of the main object; and, if the circumstances demanded it, he
felt able to make the sacrifice.
If he forwarded the packet to its proper destination, the lady would,
without doubt, be soon restored to her possessions. This was the course
he preferred, as well as the course which justice and morality demanded.
But, alas! his moral sentiment was not sufficiently developed to make
him pause before taking the opposite course, if his present and
temporary interest should seem to demand it. A departure from the strict
injunction of conscience is sure to bring misery; and this was doubly
true in his case.
The uncle was in actual possession, and he called to mind the old maxim,
that "possession is nine points in the law.
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