ot some secret fund in reserve; to the comforts of which I leave you,
with a desire that you will this night seek out another habitation for
yourself and wife, whither, in a short time, I will send you an account
of the ex pens I have been at in your education, with a view of
being reimbursed. Sir, you have made the grand tour--you are a polite
gentleman--a very pretty gentleman--I wish you a great deal of joy, and
am your very humble servant."

So saying, he left my father in a situation easily imagined. However,
he did not long hesitate; for, being perfectly well acquainted with his
father's disposition, he did not doubt that he was glad of this pretence
to get rid of him; and his resolves being as invariable as the laws of
the Medes and Persians, he know it would be to no purpose to attempt him
by prayers and entreaties; so without any farther application, he betook
himself, with his disconsolate bedfellow to a farm-house, where an
old servant of his mother dwelt: there they remained some time in
a situation but ill adapted to the elegance of their desires and
tenderness of their love; which nevertheless my father chose to endure,
rather than supplicate an unnatural and inflexible parent but my mother,
foreseeing the inconveniences to which she must have been exposed,
had she been delivered in this place (and her pregnancy was very far
advanced), without communicating her design to her husband, went in
disguise to the house of my grandfather, hoping that her tears and
condition would move him to compassion, and reconcile him to an event
which was now irrecoverably past.

She found means to deceive the servants, and get introduced as an
unfortunate lady, who wanted to complain of some matrimonial grievances,
it being my grandfather's particular province to decide in all cases
of scandal. She was accordingly admitted into his presence, where,
discovering herself, she fell at his feet, and in the most affecting
manner implored his forgiveness; at the same the same time representing
the danger that threatened not only her life, but that of his own
grandchild, which was about to see the light. He told her he was sorry
that the indiscretion of her and his son had compelled him to make a
vow, which put it out of his power to give them any assistance; that he
had already imparted his thoughts on that subject to her husband,
and was surprised that they should disturb his peace with any farther
importunity. This said, he reti