- porting exertions, such a character and
connection as insured him an engagement for the next season, should it be required; and he was preparing on a Saturday to visit his Collings, while she at the very instant was writing him a farewell letter;—when the postman's knock called him to the door, and a letter was delivered in his mother's hand, but hardly legible. Hastily opening it, he found these words: "My beloved William, your father is extremely ill, we fear dangerously;—lose no time,—spare no expence,—come instantly." Though the letter had no date but Friday morning, it appeared to have been put into the Doncaster post-office, whence he concluded that they were now at Brotherton, and therefore trusted he would reach them in four and twenty hours. Having a credit on his father's agent, he went immediately; in half an hour he
