all those scenes of misery I have since suffered. I lost my companion: for her father dying, and leaving her in bad circumstances, she went to live with a lady of fashion, who took a great fancy to her. This was some uneasiness to me; however, I could not be miserable, while my father was happy and fond of me.
"But on a sudden I observed he turned quite thoughtful and melancholy; I grew very uneasy at it, and took the liberty one day to ask him the cause of it; and begged, if I did anything he disliked, he would let me know it, that I might take care to avoid it for the future. He looked at me with an air of the greatest tenderness, and said, 'My dear child, how can you suspect you ever offend me? No! I am more and more pleased every day with your conduct, which is much above what I ever saw in a person of your years; nay, indeed, a man of the greatest understanding would not be ashamed of your conversation.' I cannot deny but this acknowledgment from one of his judgment, had some effect on my vanity; but I can sincerely say, that the greatest joy I had in it, was owing to the thoughts of my father's partiality and fondness for me. 'No, on the contrary,' continued he, 'my love of you is the cause of my uneasiness; for I have let a passion unawares steal on me, which I am afraid will be to your disadvantage; for although with economy I am able to support you and your brother in a tolerable manner, yet my fortune is not large; and if I should marry, and have an increase of family, it might injure you.'
"'The object of this passion is Livia, the daughter of ———: her fortune must be small; for almost all the estate in the family is gone to the eldest son; who, as he is married, and has children of his own, cannot be expected to do much for her.'
