Part 20 (1/2)

Should I suffer my mother to want? No To becoestion I had been several years under the tuition of the rector, and had acquired nity The picture beforeone, but I would subject rain a day, rather than abandon ht

This affair made me resolve once more to visit my native country, and my resolution was ih of a painful kind, to the hts at that oad hi him to pursue any one, is happy to be put in motion

My arrival was unexpected: my mother, as but little inclined to accuse herself, received me with much more satisfaction than embarrassment

The behaviour of Thornby was not quite so self-co the receipt and disburserandfather's property, were sometimes answered with the affectation of open honesty; and at others with petulant auity, so that I knew not whether he meant to shun or to provoke inquiry 'Executorshi+p was a very thankless office; it involved a man in continual trouble, for which he could receive no recompence, and then subjected hi to look after their own affairs His very great friendshi+p for the rector had induced hih he well knew the trouble and tediousness attending it, and the ingratitude hich it was always repaid He had several times in his life played the fool in the same way, and had always met with the same reward'

Equivocation is the essence of law, and I believe he spoke truth

'He should take care, however, not to involve himself in such officious troubles for the future As for the accounts, he was ready at all tiued enough, and had even paid money out of his own pocket, which he was sure, whenever a balance came to be struck, he should not be reimbursed But there were various affairs that he could not ies, and other matters that required time He had business of his own to which he ood actions against hilect

Indeed he was not bound to give me any account; but he always acted on the square, and therefore defied scrutiny; nay, he wished it, for what had an honest man to fear?'

He talked so much of his honesty that, if he did not quite persuade me it was immaculate, he at least led me to doubt

Beside, as he had reminded me, what claims had I? The property was bequeathed to my mother; she had married, her husband had squandered it away, and there was an end of it Farther inquiry was but vexation and loss of time It is true, the supposed wealth of the rector had quickly disappeared: but if the owner of it, my mother's husband, were satisfied, what could be said?

She indeed hinted tohe could wrest noa bill in Chancery, or some other process at law, for which he had no funds, not tocast in costs of suit, had been obliged to desist; though convinced that the property was not one half expended He had a better hope Thornby was old, had no children, and ht soon leave him the whole

With most men this would have been a powerfulhusband, my mother owned, were too impetuous to be restrained by the cold considerations of prudence At first she censured him with reluctance; for to censure him was in reality to adduce ainst hi deserted her presently overpowered her caution, and the pictures she dreed hial but unprincipled He had even so far offended the law, that it was doubtful whether his life were not in danger; and Thornby, whose plans had been frustrated by his extravagance, hadhimself of his importunity

In any case it was necessary to make some provision for my mother; and, embroiled in doubt as I was, the ine was to consult Thornby

He affected to be very conscientious, and scarcely knehat advice to give 'My mother was in want, and to desert her would be cruel; yet the money that was devised ood purpose, and the pious will of the testator ought to be held sacred

I was young, the grandson of a good reat learning and good sense, and ought not to be deprived of theht up, and a dutiful son to be sure could not desert his parent It was a difficult point

To purchase a life annuity for her would be the best way of securing her, against the e; but then it would sink deeply into the thousand pounds to h he knew no other method in her case that would be so safe'

While I listened I resolved To provide for my mother I held to be an indispensable duty; and, notwithstanding my late disappointuine telooht star may shoot and fall, hope soon creates a whole constellation The earl and the prelate had both been unprincipled; but the failure was in them, not in me I could not but remember the terror that Themistocles had excited in a prime minister; and the avidity hich a prelate had endeavoured to profit by ical talents How certainly and how soon could I bring these talents into notice! How easy the task! I need but mount the rostrum, I need but put pen to paper, and ht to do me justice Incontrovertible facts were in my favour; and to foster doubts and fears would be cowardice, self-desertion, and folly! Such were my conclusions

I determined therefore, without farther hesitation, to employ the sum of five hundred pounds in the purchase of an annuity for my mother

The remainder would amply supply me, till those rich mines should be explored fro specimens

I continued in the country almost three weeks; but, as the purchase could not instantly be concluded, I left the stipulated sum in my mother's possession, drew the remainder of the thousand pounds in bills and cash from Thornby, and, with more wealth than I ever bore about h Olivia was daily and hourly remembered, I had recovered so far by the business in which I had been engaged as to think seriously of pursuing my studies; for by their aid I was to realize those splendid projects on which, as I supposed, the happiness of eneral forenius is inclined to treat it with contempt: but, if the candidate happen to be obnoxious to the heads of the university, his examination may then be of a very different kind I had not much doubt; for, from the questions and answers I had so often heard on these occasions, to reject me seemed to be almost impossible

Yet I was not entirely without alarrace of rustication that I had suffered, the coldness of the reception I had uity which I conceived I had since remarked in his manner, excited some fear; and ht defy reproof

I had been told indeed thatitself, but which was so arbitrary and odious as to be but rarely practised Anyany cause for his conduct, may object, for two terree! Nay, these terms ended, another usting that I had not the least apprehension it would be put in practice against me

To my utter astonishment, I was mistaken! On the day appointed to ask leave, ahis objection by reasoning, charge, or censure, exercised this detestable university veto

My surprize and indignation, at hearing hireat that I was deprived of utterance I even doubted the reality of what I heard: I stood gazing, till he was gone, and then exclaimed, as if to a person present--'Me, Sir!--Do you mean me?'

A minute afterward, my interjections were not quite so inoffensive A torrent of passion burst fronity could not justly assert I wanted learning, ht, had he stayed, have collected sufficient proofs of my want of philosophy