"I heard afterwards that they were reduced to great diftrefs. But what are bankrupts to expect?" continued Transfer; "and as for my fifter, fhe was not to be pitied, because fhe might have lived perfectly eafy both in body and mind in my house in Lombard-ftreet, if she had taken my advice, and abandoned her hufband, and fent her child to nurse, or to board in the country."

"Nothing can be more clear," faid the Earl, "than that you have acted like yourfelf, and have done every thing for your fifter that could be expected of you.-But after all, what became of her?"

"A relation of her husband's happened to die, and left him a small eftate in Yorkfhire, of five or fix hundred a-year; and as neither he, nor my fifter, had any ambi tion, and were afraid of a new bankruptcy if they had fettled in town; he retired to his fmall eftate, where he died a few years ago, leaving no other children but the fon whom the refufed to fend out to nurfe, and who has now arrived at man's estate."

"Whereas,"

"Whereas," added the Earl, "if fhe had followed your advice, and given him out to nurse, she might probably have had him off her hands long ago."

"Why, there is no knowing what might have happened," faid Transfer, "for most of those children die before they arrive at the years of discretion, which is very well ordered, as they have nothing to live on."

"Well, but Mr. Transfer," refumed the Peer, "do you ever intend to marry?", "No, my Lord,” replied he; "I cannot fay I do;-as I never was accustomed to a wife, I am not much inclined to matrimony; for through the whole courfe of my life I have never found any thing agree with me, but what I am accustomed to."

"That is very wifely obferved,” said the Earl; "but this young man of course will be your heir ?"

"Unquestionably," answered Transfer; "the young man never offended me; and as he is my nearest of kin, I should be

VOL. II.

G

forry

forry to do an unjust thing, and leave my fortune to any other body.-No, no; he fhall have all at my death, but he must wait till then; befides, it is fo far lucky that it faves my making a will, to which I have always had an averfion; for this young man being my lawful heir, there is no need to employ an attorney to leave him his due."

discovered, and which fhocked Lady Elizabeth, feemed to be a fource of amufement to her brother; who, however, was surprised at perceiving that Transfer expreffed not the leaft defire of ever seeing an only fifter, and ftill more that he should. have the fame indifference towards a nephew whom he confidered as his heir, and who he owned had never offended him. The infenfibility of Transfer for his fifter and nephew feemed to inspire the Earl with an interest in them. He wrote to an acquaintance, who refided in that part of the country in which Mrs. Steele and her

fon lived, defiring an account of both their characters, and a particular detail regarding their circumftances and manner of life, efpecially what the views of the fon

were.

In confequence of this, the Earl was informed, that Mrs. Steele was an agreeable woman, of a cheerful temper and benevolent difpofition, without much forefight, and diftractedly fond of her fon, whom he had never been able to contradict in her life: that he was a young fellow of that genuine and rare good-nature that refifts the ufual effect of fo much indulgence; for, although his mother's ftudy was to gratify, not to correct his humours, this ill-judged partiality had only prevented his improvement, without rendering him capricious, unfeeling, or or wicked: that while he remained at fchool, he had applied himself to nothing; but that ever fince he left it, he had applied himself with unremitting diligence to hunting and shooting, in both of which, and in the know-ledge

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