ence felt on being told of my indisposition. He again resumed.) "Master Le Brun desires me, ladies and gentlemen, to offer you his unfeigned thanks for this signal and unaffected mark of your approbation;" (cheers) "and he hopes, ladies and gentlemen, to have the honour of very soon appearing before you again." The manager disappeared, in the midst of loud and tumultuous cheering. The indisposition to which he so pathetically alluded, was to me as great a mystery as that of having played fifty nights, in succession, at Drury Lane; but as matters, thus far, had been so adroitly managed, I concluded that I had more cause for gratitude than displeasure. On the following day, as I was looking over the newspapers to see what encomiums had been passed upon my performance, a servant knocked at my door, and informed me that a gentleman had just arrived in a carriage, and requested to see me. I gave orders to inquire his name. The servant returned, and informed me that it was a Sir Thomas Le Brun. "Sir Thomas Le Brun !" I repeated, with no little astonishment. "Show him up." 66 Who, in the devil, is Sir Thomas Le Brun ?" said I to myself: "some dolt of an Englishman, I suppose, who wants to scrape an acquaintance because he happens to be a namesake. Well, I will treat him with civility, at all events. Perhaps, after all, I am highly honoured. Ah! here he comes!" Such were my sentences, as the door was thrown open. "Angels and ministers of grace defend us!" It was my father! Had the earth opened, I could not have been more horror-stricken. But, as I had just enacted the king, I must now, at least, enact the man. He very composedly took his seat, without appearing to notice my trepidation, and was the first to speak. "I have been so accommodating, you perceive, as to change my name." "I do not know that it was necessary," I replied, with more bitterness, perhaps, than I intended, for I was beginning seriously to regret that I had acted with so much imprudence. "You must learn, before it be too late, to curb your temper," said my father, calmly and dispassionately. "You see not the precipice over which you are preparing to leap. You must retrace your steps, or your ruin will be inevitable. I come to advise and reason with you. I desire not to exercise any unnecessary severity. I ask you to return home, as a dutiful son, and your past transgressions shall be forgotten. If you refuse, I should be neglecting my duty as a parent, not to enforce obedience. I am too well acquainted with the depravity of mankind, not to know that you are laying the foundation of a miserable and iniquitous life. Good and evil are equally before you ; one of the two it is for you to choose; the election, in some measure, is in your own hands." There was so much kindness-so much anxious solicitude for my welfare-expressed in my father's words, that I gladly acknowledged my error, and throwing myself into his arms, earnestly besought his forgiveness. He received me with childish fondness, and as he folded me in his embrace, I felt his warm tears dropping upon my cheek. Never before did I experience such inexpressible anguish-such an overpowering sense of my own unworthiness. I cheerfully renounced all intentions of a theatrical career, and returned home with a joyous heart. My mother welcomed me with a thousand ejaculations of delight; and my adorable sisters almost smothered me with their kisses. CHAPTER IX. At Avignon, there was a number of eminent ladies who formed themselves in a body known as "The Parliament or Court of Love." Their principal duty was to investigate love affairs. Desultory Sketch Book. I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver. Othello. Manners with fortunes, humours turn with climes, Tenets with books, and principles with times. The wild are constant, and the cunning known; POPE. AMONG my principal associates at Essex, was Borel Bunting. We were connected by a thousand little ties, which can only be appreciated by those who have formed similar friendships. Borel was many years my senior, and sometimes associated with the oldest men in the village; for he could be grave or gay, as circumstances might require: but he generally preferred my society, notwithstanding my youth, because I dressed fashionably, and carried a gold-headed cane. There was still another reason he professed a strong attachment for my sister Eleanor; and, as she was not accounted handsome, it was whispered that he aspired to a connection with the baronet's family, more through motives of pecuniary interest, than any particular regard for my sister. At length, a number of women, who had formed themselves into "A Court of Inquiry," thought proper to investigate this important matter, and took tea seven times with the baronet, before they ventured to make known their errand. This delay can only be accounted for, upon the supposition that they were in ecstasies with my mother's newly-made preserves. At last, however, they proceeded to discharge their official duties. The deputation, upon this occasion, consisted of three persons-a widow, by the name of Rattleton, and two old maids. Mrs. Rattleton, who was the chief personage of the trio, was remarkable for a sanctified look, as well as an impertinent curiosity. The baronet being summoned before them with due solemnity, Mrs. Rattleton commenced as follows: "You may be surprised, Sir John, that we should request this interview; but rest assured, that we are actuated by a desire for your good." Here A |