as we grew up, were very attentive to her, and
anxious to be in her good graces. I cannot say which was preferred at
first, but I rather think that if anything, I was the favourite during
the first two years of our being acquainted with her. I was more lively
and a better companion than your father, who was inclined to be grave
and thoughtful. We had been about four years in the counting-house,
when my mother died--my father had been dead some time before I went
into it--and at her death I found my share of her property to amount to
about 2,500 pounds. But I was not yet twenty-one years of age. I could
not receive it for another year. Mr Evelyn, who had till then every
reason to be satisfied with my conduct, used to joke with me, and say
that as soon as I was of age, he would allow me, if I chose it, to put
the money in the business, and thus obtain a small share in it--and such
was my intention, and I looked forward to bright prospects and the hope
of one day being married to your mother; and I have no doubt but such
would have been the case, had I still conducted myself properly. But,
before I was of age, I made some very bad acquaintances, and soon ran
into expenses which I could not afford, and the worst was, that I
contracted a habit of sitting up late at night, and drinking to excess,
which I never have since got over, which proved my ruin then, and has
proved my ruin through life. This little fortune of mine not only gave
me consequence, but was the cause of my thinking very highly of myself.
I now was more particular in my attentions to Miss Evelyn, and was
graciously received by her father; neither had I any reason to complain
of my treatment from the young lady. As for your father, he was quite
thrown into the back-ground. He had no property nor hope of any, except
what he might hereafter secure by his diligence and good conduct; and
the attention I received from Mr Evelyn, and also the head clerk, who
had an idea that I was to be a partner and consequently would become his
superior, made him very melancholy and unhappy, for I believe that then
he was quite as much in love with Miss Evelyn as I was myself; and I
must tell you, that my love for her was unbounded, and she well deserved
it. But all these happy prospects were overthrown by my own folly. As
soon as it was known that I had property left to me, I was surrounded by
many others who requested to be introduced to me, and my evenings were
passed