orence. Meanwhile the
surgeon's prognostic was not altogether verified. Mr. Darnel did not die
immediately of his wounds, but he lingered a long time, as it were in the
arms of death, and even partly recovered, yet, in all probability, he
will never be wholly restored to the enjoyment of his health, and is
obliged every summer to attend the hot-well at Bristol. As his wounds
began to heal, his hatred to Mr. Greaves seemed to revive with augmented
violence, and he is now, if possible, more than ever determined against
all reconciliation.

"Mr. Launcelot, after having endeavoured to amuse his imagination with a
succession of curious objects, in a tour of Italy, took up his residence
at a town called Pisa, and there fell into a deep melancholy, from which
nothing could rouse him but the news of his father's death.

"The old gentleman, God rest his soul, never held up his head after the
departure of his darling Launcelot, and the dangerous condition of
Darnel kept up his apprehension. This was reinforced by the obstinate
silence of the youth, and certain accounts of his disordered mind,
which he had received from some of those persons who take pleasure in
communicating disagreeable tidings. A complication of all these
grievances, co-operating with a severe fit of the gout and gravel,
produced a fever, which, in a few days, brought Sir Everhard to his long
home, after he had settled his affairs with heaven and earth, and made
his peace with God and man. I'll assure you, gemmen, he made a most
edifying and Christian end; he died regretted by all his neighbours
except Anthony, and might be said to be embalmed by the tears of the
poor, to whom he was always a bounteous benefactor.

"When the son, now Sir Launcelot, came home, he appeared so meagre, wan,
and hollow-eyed, that the servants hardly knew their young master. His
first care was to take possession of his fortune, and settle accounts
with the steward who had succeeded my father. These affairs being
discussed, he spared no pains to get intelligence concerning Miss Darnel;
and soon learned more of that young lady than he desired to know; for it
was become the common talk of the country, that a match was agreed upon
between her and young Squire Sycamore, a gentleman of a very great
fortune. These tidings were probably confirmed under her own hand, in a
letter which she wrote to Sir Launcelot. The contents were never exactly
known but to the parties themselves;