melworth-hall.

To attempt a full expression of my concern for your sufferings would be in vain; I shall, therefore, my dear Charles, only say that I feel them; – and tho' it is not in my power to present you with any thing like an equivalent to the estate you expect to lose, yet it is to offer you independence. My heart is yours, and you shall share my fortune, unless providence bestows upon you a better, which, from the little knowledge I have gained of Mr. Bertills, by report, I still hope will be the case; and in this particular, I confess myself, to the full, as sanguine as Fitzmaurice, but I believe it is upon a stronger foundation. Why will you, my friend, again pretend to penetration after the recent proof you have had of your mistake in the character of Fanny Elwood? Who, with all her cunning, did not impose/ upon those of real experience, and discernment. I am deceived if you are not as greatly mistaken too, in the character of Mr. Bertills. – I am glad you are fallen into no worse hands; his friendship and affection for your late father, is, in my opinion, a guarantee for his kindness to you. I see nothing to condemn in his letter; he writes like what he professes himself to be – an affectionate relation. As to the mention he makes of his business, you may plainly perceive he only means to use that as an instrument to subdue those feelings which would be too painful to support, and two powerful to be conquered by any thing less than a subject capable of engrossing his fixed attention. His knowledge of trade and attachment to it, give him greatly the advantage over such idle, useless fellows as you and me; since it offers him, at all times, a resource from the bitterness of grief; – while we have no other than conversation, books, music, or some such trifling things; for trifling they all appear, when taken up merely for the purpose of stemming a torrent of affliction with which the heart is overwhelmed.