for the great affection I have always borne thee; and I make no doubt
that thou wilt readily oblige me in such a trifle as giving up a mere
Spanish donna. So think of her no more. If thou wantest to make love,
there are ladies in plenty whom thou needest not to marry. And for
my part, I thought that thou wert all in all with the Lady Hasselton:
Heaven bless her pretty face! Now don't think I want to scold thee; and
don't think thine old uncle harsh,--God knows he is not,--but my dear,
dear boy, this is quite out of the question, and thou must let me hear
no more about it. The gout cripples me so that I must leave off. Ever
thine old uncle,

WILLIAM DEVEREUX.

P. S. Upon consideration, I think, my dear boy, that thou must want
money, and thou art ever too sparing. Messrs. Child, or my goldsmiths
in Aldersgate, have my orders to pay to thy hand's-writing whatever thou
mayst desire; and I do hope that thou wilt now want nothing to make
thee merry withal. Why dost thou not write a comedy? is it not the mode
still?

LETTER FROM AUBREY DEVEREUX.

I have sounded my uncle, dearest Morton, according to your wishes; and I
grieve to say that I have found him inexorable. He was very much hurt by
your letter to him, and declared he should write to you forthwith
upon the subject. I represented to him all that you have said upon the
virtues of your intended bride; and I also insisted upon your clear
judgment and strong sense upon most points being a sufficient surety
for your prudence upon this. But you know the libertine opinions and
the depreciating judgment of women entertained by my poor uncle; and he
would, I believe, have been less displeased with the heinous crime of an
illicit connection than the amiable weakness of an imprudent marriage--I
might say of any marriage--until it was time to provide heirs to the
estate.

Here Aubrey, in the most affectionate and earnest manner, broke off, to
point out to me the extreme danger to my interests that it would be to
disoblige my uncle; who, despite his general kindness, would, upon
a disagreement on so tender a matter as his sore point, and his most
cherished hobby, consider my disobedience as a personal affront. He also
recalled to me all that my uncle had felt and done for me; and insisted,
at all events, upon the absolute duty of my delaying, even though
I should not break off, the intended measure. Upon these points he
enlarged much and eloquently; and this part of hi