vied him the happiness of seeing you once more. He went into the army some years since; a few months ago he was thrown off his horse, and died of the fall." Here he paused a few moments, and then continued, "Yet you have lost nothing by his death; the son's friendship for you has devolved to the father. I do not love mankind; yet I wish you would accept of his place in my heart, and bestow, at least, a part of your affection for my unhappy boy upon his father." It was very natural that I replied I had loved him long since, and that I would endeavour to deserve his kind opinion. He now left me reluctantly, turning to the Count. I told him his name; and it fortunately happened that he was an intimate friend of the Baron in his younger years. Our reverend host was rejoiced to renew an old acquaintance, and we began soon to converse so cordially as if we had known one another for years, and were members of the same family.
Having
