yet waiving interested considerations, the General was gratified to find he had become the successor of an ancient peer.
Thus honoured, what could prove with greater force to the world, and to the military of every rank, that he had in no ways forfeited the Government favour—that from the late inquiry passed upon his conduct, his name and character remained pure and unblemished? Taken in this sense, however small the revenue he had acquired, and however late in coming, it was received with joy and thankfulness. By bounding his wants and ambition it might be found adequate, if not to the expenditure of Mount Zephyr, yet to some humbler retirement.
He returned to his family. The summer months had passed away, the winter was succeeding, and the days of mourning for the lamented Sir Aubrey were about expiring, when the visit of Oriana to her aunt, interrupted on account of the sudden indisposition of her grandfather, was desired to be renewed; the invitation included her sister, and Mrs. Arden proposed sending her carriage to convey them to Fairfield Lodge. This act of complaisance from his sister was very gratifying to the General, as it proved that no cessation of her kindest feelings towards him had taken place since the death of his father.
