; and how he wishes me with him, the partner of his
fortune."

"And how stand you affected to his wish?" asked the father.

"As one relying on your lordship's will, and not depending on his
friendly wish," said Proteus.

Now it had happened that Proteus' father had just been talking with a
friend on this very subject: his friend had said, he wondered his
lordship suffered his son to spend his youth at home, while most men
were sending their sons to seek preferment abroad; "some," said he, "to
the wars, to try their fortunes there, and some to discover islands far
away, and some to study in foreign universities; and there is his
companion Valentine, he is gone to the Duke of Milan's court. Your son
is fit for any of these things, and it will be a great disadvantage to
him in his riper age not to have travelled in his youth."

Proteus' father thought the advice of his friend was very good, and upon
Proteus telling him that Valentine "wished him with him, the partner of
his fortune," he at once determined to send his son to Milan; and
without giving Proteus any reason for this sudden resolution, it being
the usual habit of this positive old gentleman to command his son, not
reason with him, he said, "My will is the same as Valentine's wish;" and
seeing his son look astonished, he added, "Look not amazed, that I so
suddenly resolve you shall spend some time in the Duke of Milan's court;
for what I will I will, and there is an end. To-morrow be in readiness
to go. Make no excuses; for I am peremptory."

Proteus knew it was of no use to make objections to his father, who
never suffered him to dispute his will; and he blamed himself for
telling his father an untruth about Julia's letter, which had brought
upon him the sad necessity of leaving her.

Now that Julia found she was going to lose Proteus for so long a time,
she no longer pretended indifference; and they bade each other a
mournful farewell, with many vows of love and constancy. Proteus and
Julia exchanged rings, which they both promised to keep for ever in
remembrance of each other; and thus, taking a sorrowful leave, Proteus
set out on his journey to Milan, the abode of his friend Valentine.

Valentine was in reality what Proteus had feigned to his father, in
high favour with the Duke of Milan; and another event had happened to
him, of which Proteus did not even dream, for Valentine had given up the
freedom of which he used so much to boast, and was become as