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He has been weak enough, as he says himself, to feel this affection in its growth, and to suffer it to proceed; but these are subjects on which we are all weak, Charles. However, Malden wrote to me, as the person through whose means he was introduced to your family, desiring to know what I thought he ought to do. His words are Consider not our friendship, do not regard your habitual prepossession in my favour; look upon me as a stranger, and tell me in honour and propriety what I ought to do.' I answered him, that for my own part, nothing would give me greater pleasure than to welcome him as a part of my family; but at the same time, I set before him the difficulties he was likely to meet with on the side of your father, nor was I quite sure that you would be pleased with such a connexion yourself."

"You did not do me justice, Frederic," answered his cousin; "no one can revere the institutions of society more than I do;

but

but after all, what is rank, but a mark that the founder of the family who bears it was a good, a wise, or a brave man? that he deserved well of his country, and that his country bestowed upon him hereditary honour, not only as a reward to himself, but as a stimulus to his descendants, inciting them to actions worthy of their name? And sure I am, that those who derogate from the honour of their ancestors, far more debase it in the eyes of the world, than those who declaim against the institution itself. Malden is a gentleman, both by profession and manners— Caroline has a handsome fortune of her own, and nothing would gratify me more than to see her united to so amiable a man.” "Your sister is not yet won though," answered lord Burton; "Malden may

suffer a disappointment there."

"I do not think so," replied Charles; "from all I have seen, and from all I have heard, Malden is very likely to succeed with her at least; all her letters to me,

but

but the two last, have spoken a great deal about Mr. Malden, and then I suppose she found out that she was in love with him, and thought it time to hold her tongue."...

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"As to fortune," answered lord Burton, "Malden's must now be more than equal to the expences of so moderate a man, for lately a deanery has been given to him, and the living poor doctor Wilson had is a very good one. Should my life continue, I will also use every influence I possess to raise him in the church, for he is one of those men who will do honour to his station."

.

"Speaking of doctor Wilson," said Charles," lady Anne informed me, that you were very anxious to discover what had become of his niece, a Miss Travers I think; have you been at all successful in your inquiries?"

"Not at all," answered lord Burton; "Malden's letter gave me the only accurate information I have received. Doctor

Wilson's

*

Wilson's sister married a Mr. Travers, who lived in Devonshire, and after her death, which took place twelve or fourteen years ago, her eldest daughter came to live with our rector. I was abroad at doctor Wilson's death, and did not hear of it for some time; and before I did so, Miss Travers had returned to her father, who, I had the best reason to believe, had fallen in circumstances; and during my stay in England, I could gain no information of where the family were. Malden now writes to me, that he has made inquiries in the part of the country where they formerly resided, and where he says they still bear the highest character in every respect. The people in the neighbourhood represent Mr. Travers as a man who spent a very large income amongst them, and who fell into poverty, not by his own extravagance, but by the unex pected termination of a lawsuit, which not only obliged him to yield a large por tion of his property, but to sell the rest,

in order to pay back rents, which had accumulated against him by the title to the estate being undisputed for many years. His family was very ancient, and he was too proud to be seen in poverty; he accordingly paid every debt, with even liberality, and leaving the spot where he had shone in affluence, he concealed the refuge of his distress so carefully, that no one could give Malden the least clue to his retreat. I have, however, one certain way of discovering them: he has a son in the navy, now in the East Indies, and through his means I have no doubt I shall be able to make up, in some degree, for the loss Miss Travers has sustained by doctor Wilson dying without leaving any property, or having ensured his life."

"It is an interesting search," said Charles; "I shall be glad to hear how it terminates."

"I am sure I don't know how my feelings have become so deeply engaged in it," rejoined lord Burton; "is it, think

you,

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