ho improve the talents entrusted to their
care by Providence, possess qualities which defy the power of change.
Such persons can alone afford to be proud, yet these of all others make
the least display and think most humbly of themselves.'

"This was said playfully, but Alice did not at all relish the reproof;
which, though, disregarded by her, made a deep impression upon me."

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE MEETING.

"The next morning I arrived in York, and hastened to the house of Mr.
Mornington. I found the dear old gentleman ill in bed, but in his usual
excellent spirits.

"On expressing my concern for his illness, he laughed at my long face;
told me it was a trifle, and he should soon be well again. Alas, he was
not a true prophet! In a few weeks I followed my worthy friend to his
grave; and found myself at the age of one-and-twenty, my own master,
and sole heir to his large property.

"The joy felt at this unexpected good fortune was more than
counterbalanced by the loss of the generous donor. Gladly would I have
resigned the wealth he so nobly bequeathed me, if by so doing I could
have recalled the dear old man to life. I was detained for several
months in York, settling my affairs. I lost no time, however, in
acquainting Cornelius, by letter, of my good fortune. I took this
opportunity of mentioning my attachment to his sister, and urged him,
if he valued my happiness, to plead with her in my behalf. His answer,
though kind, was far from satisfactory to a young and ardent lover.

"He informed me that Charlotte was not insensible to my passion; and
that he knew that she entertained from me a sincere esteem; but it was
entirely out of her power to accept any offer of marriage without the
consent of her guardian; or she would lose the property bequeathed to
her by her father; who had left this stringent clause in his will.

"For himself, he continued, nothing would give him greater pleasure,
than to see his beloved sister united to a man whom he loved, and whom
he considered worthy of her regard; particularly, as he found his own
health daily declining, and was about to take a journey to the south of
France, in the hope of deriving some benefit from change of climate and
scene.

"He urged me to return immediately to London; to plead my own cause
with Charlotte, and to spend a few days with him, before he left
England; as he felt, that it was more than probable, that we might
never meet again.

"The last m