to attend to her poor or write her
voluminous letters; papa dozed in his arm-chair; and the Genius remained
to keep her young cousin company.

The calm of the house somehow pleased the young man, and he liked
to take refuge there away from the riot and dissipation in which he
ordinarily lived. Certainly no welcome could be kinder than that which
he got. The doors were opened to him at all hours. If Flora was not at
home, Dora was ready to receive him. Ere many days' acquaintance, he and
his little cousin Miles had been to have a galloping-match in the Park,
and Harry, who was kind and generous to every man alive who came near
him, had in view the purchase of a little horse for his cousin, far
better than that which the boy rode, when the circumstances occurred
which brought all our poor Harry's coaches and horses to a sudden
breakdown.

Though Sir Miles Warrington had imagined Virginia to be an island, the
ladies were much better instructed in geography, and anxious to hear
from Harry all about his home and his native country. He, on his part,
was not averse to talk about it. He described to them the length and
breadth of his estate; the rivers which it coasted; the produce which
it bore. He had had with a friend a little practice of surveying in
his boyhood. He made a map of his county, with some fine towns here and
there, which, in truth, were but log-huts (but, for the honour of his
country, he was desirous that they should wear as handsome a look as
possible). Here was Potomac; here was James river; here were the wharves
whence his mother's ships and tobacco were brought to the sea. In truth,
the estate was as large as a county. He did not brag about the place
overmuch. To see the handsome young fellow, in a fine suit of velvet and
silver lace, making his draught, pointing out this hill and that forest
or town, you might have imagined him a travelling prince describing the
realms of the queen his mother. He almost fancied himself to be so at
times. He had miles where gentlemen in England had acres. Not only Dora
listened but the beauteous Flora bowed her fair head and heard him with
attention. Why, what was young Tom Claypool, their brother baronet's son
in Norfolk with his great boots, his great voice, and his heirdom to
a poor five thousand acres, compared to this young American prince and
charming stranger? Angel as she was, Dora began to lose her angelic
temper, and to twit Flora for a flirt. Claypool in his re