Part 62 (2/2)

'To a n these claims I need not say ”perhaps”: I ahly persuaded you would forsake a life of artifice and plunder, and were I myself only concerned

'But that is not the case I have an object to accomplish so dear to my heart that it ss up lesser considerations, and will not allow lect any honest means by which it may be promoted Wealth to me is indispensible; wealth that shall place me on a level with a rich and proud family hich I have to contend I have an impulse such perhaps as you have never felt There is a woman in the world, endoith such qualities that to say I passionately love her is a most impotent expression of what I feel: for to tenderness and ardour of affection randeur of soul can inspire To think of life without her is to think of a world sterile, desolate, and joyless: of a night to which day shall never succeed: and of existence arrested and chained in ht be very pitiful; or very sublime: just as you please: but which would be very absurd'

'Granted: but this is the fever of my mind; the disease to which, should erously impelled'

'The interpretation of all which is, that, though you have discovered principles, which if pursued would secure to yourself and h you can deal forth their doght to take, yet, when your own passions are concerned, you act like the rest of the world And you do this, not blindly, as they do, but, with your eyes open; at the e their truth'

'Your accusation is pre s and my doubts'

'But these doubts, spurred on by these feelings, assure ainst Wakefield'

'You may think yourself assured: I conceive reat punishoodness of which there should be a conviction I can even suppose cases in which I would not only devote my life, for that in con the woman whom my soul adores Sacrifices like these however cannot be expected on light occasions The good to be obtained ought to be evidently greater than the evil to be endured'

He paused a moment to collect his ideas, and then replied

'If, Mr Trevor, you are the ht you, and to which by your discourse to me you have certainly made very lofty pretensions, I would advise you to reflect on what I shall once more state I know that this Wakefield, of whouilty as you have supposed, is now inclined to be a different man I would have you consider, first, to who? I think you will find that to be doubtful Next, supposing it to be legally yours, may you not nevertheless be defrauded of it by law? And, lastly, appeal to your own principles, and ask yourself whether it be not better that you should have a chance of doing the good which you conceive would be done, by recovering such a man as Wakefield to that respect in society by which his talents ht be well employed; or whether it can be consistent with your own sense of right to take e to be precarious, and unjust, in order to dispossess him and to appropriate that to yourself to which, if you are impartial, you will perhaps find it difficult to prove, even to your own satisfaction, that you have a clear and undoubted clai ay raillery, witty allusions, or a recurrence to the depravity of man, and the practice of the world, he kept closely to the question, preserved the tone of earnest discussion, and, having uttered what I have last repeated, took his leave with that serious air which he had thus unexpectedly assumed, and maintained

CHAPTER II

_The plan of Wakefield pursued, and the hopes and fears of an affectionate woman: News of Philip: An artless exculpatory tale_

Quitting the place,on the scene that had passed, surprised at every part of it, at the interested e which he professed to have of Wakefield, at the promises and the threats which he appeared to make in his name, at the coincidence not only of their characters, if his account were true, but at their si inclinations to reform, astonished while I recollected these various particulars, instead of returning is I called on Miss Wilmot

When I came to the door, I had scarcely decided with myself whether it were advisable to relate what had passed to her, which as she was personally in question I thought myself bound to do whenever it could be done with safety; or whether, if related at present, it ht not excite hopes that would be disappointed, and anxieties prejudicial to her peace

She no sooner saw lad you are come, Mr Trevor! I have two unexpected affairs, on which I wish to consult you One of thein with that because you are not only concerned in it but are appealed to in a very remarkable manner I have received two extraordinary letters; by both of which I have been not a little affected Pray read this first It is from Mr Wakefield The promises it contains, the style it assue as to appear either like ave ine, Lydia, that because I have long forborn all intercourse with you I have forgotten you, be assured you are mistaken I have treated you so shaht to expect you should believe my professions, be s than those of hatred Yet, to deal sincerely with you, this is what I do not expect I have had such proofs of the kindness of your heart, and the strength of your affection, that my confidence is still entire

'It is the more unshaken because my own intentions are direct: of which the plainness hich I shall deliver ine be some proof

'I once more repeat, I have behaved to you like a ---- Spare h to recollect that I have been the thing I could plead the extreovernable passions, and the dangerous temptation of critical moments; but that I will not exhibit any feature of pitiful apology, or endeavour to extenuate what I cannot defend

'You are intimate with Mr Trevor You know that his mother, my late wife, is dead; and you have heard of a will, said to have been left bythat I i placed under this uncle's care That such a man should die like a coward, and endeavour to disinherit a relation to save his soul, supposing this disinheritance to be true, would be no miracle It would only be an act of contemptible stupidity

'I will not here enter into any enquiries of a legal kind: for I will be open enough to own that, being in possession both in right of my wife and as the heir of my uncle of the property he left, and determined as I am to assert my claims, which I think paramount to those of any other person, I will not commit myself even to you On the contrary, I write this letter purposely that you may shew it to Mr Trevor

'You will ask my motive for this, and perhaps will be surprised at my answer

'By certain whimsical accidents, I have become acquainted with Mr

Trevor's principles I believe, or I rather know, hi equally excellent I wish to appeal to them both When he shall read this, he will have had a conversation relating to e I a property he cannot forget that he lately delivered himself thus: