education. Here the attachment of these young men became more and more folid, as they advanced nearer to manhood, and after a course of academical studies, in which Gemellus ftill improved the reputation he brought from Weftminfter, it was propofed that he should accompany his friend upon his travels, and a proper governor was engaged for that fervice. This proposal rather staggered Gemellus's guardian on the score of expence, and he now found it neceflary for the first time to open himself to Euphorion. With this intent he called upon him one morning, and taking him aside, told him, he was come to confer with him on the fubject of Gemellus-" I am forry for it," interpofed Euphorion. "Hold, Sir," anfwered the lawyer, "interrupt me not, if you please; tho' "Gemellus is my ward, he is your fon; and if

you have the natural feelings of a father, you "will be proud to acknowledge your right in "him as fuch."As he was speaking these words, an awkward fervant burft into the room, and staring with fright and confufion, told his mafter there was a great lord in a fine equipage had actually driven up to the hall door, and was afking to speak with him. Euphorion's surprize was now little less than his fervant's, and not being in the habit of receiving visits from people

of distinction, he eagerly demanded of the lawyer who this vifitor could poffibly be, and casting an eye of embarraffment upon his gouty foot-" I 66 am not fit to be feen," faid he, " and cannot "tell how to escape; for heaven's fake! go and "fee who this vifitor is, and keep him from the "fight of me, if it be poffible."

Euphorion had scarce done fpeaking, when the door was thrown open, and the noble ftranger, who was no less a perfon than the father of Gemellus's friend, made his approach, and having introduced himself to Euphorion, and apologized for the abruptness of his vifit, proceeded to explain the occafion of it in the following words:"I wait upon you, Sir, with a request, "in which I flatter myfelf I fhall be feconded "by this worthy gentleman here prefent: You "have the honour to be father to one of the "most amiable and accomplished young men b "ever knew; it may not become me to speak fo << warmly of my own fon as perhaps I might "with truth, but I flatter myself it will be fome "recommendation of him to your good opinion, "when I tell you that he is the friend and inti"mate of your Gemellus: They have now gone

through school and college together, and ac"cording to my notions of the world fuch early connections, when they are well chofen, are

"amongst

amongst the chief advantages of a public edu"cation; but as I now purpose to fend my fon ་ upon his travels, and in fuch a manner as I "Alatter myself will be for his benefit and imCC provement, I hope you will pardon this intru"fion, when I inform you that the object of it "is to folicit your confent that Gemellus may accompany him."

Euphorion's countenance, whilft this fpeech was addreffed to him, underwent a variety of changes, furprize at hearing such an unexpected character of his fon was ftrongly expreft; gleam of joy feemed to break out, but was foon difpelled by fhame and vexation at the reflection of having abandoned him; he attempted to speak, but confufion choaked him; he caft a look of embarrassment upon the lawyer, but the joy and triumph, which his features exhibited, appeared to him like infult, and he turned his eyes on the ground in filence and defpair. No one emotion had efcaped the obfervation of Gemellus's patron, who, turning to the lawyer, faid he believed he need not affect to be ignorant of Gemellus's fituation, and then addreffing himself again to Euphorion-"I can readily understand,” said he, "that such a propofal as I have now opened to "you, however advantageous it might promife * to be to your fon, would not correspond with your

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your ideas in point of expence, nor come "within the compass of that limited provision, "which you have thought fit to appoint for him: "This is a matter, of which I have no preten"fions to fpeak; you have disposed of your for❝tune between your fons in the proportions you "thought fit, and it must be owned a youth, "who has had a domeftic education, ftands the "moft in need of a father's help, from the little "chance there is of his being able to take care "of himself: Gemellus has talents that must "fecure his fortune, and if my fervices can "affift him, they fhall never be wanting; "in the mean time it is very little for me "to say that my purfe will furnish their joint "occafions, whilft they are on their travels, and "Gemellus's little fund, which is in honest "and friendly hands, will accumulate in the "interim.'

The length of this speech would have given Euphorion time to recollect himself, if the matter of it had not prefented fome unpleasant truths to his reflection, which incapacitated him from making a deliberate reply; he made a shift however to hammer out fome broken fentences, and with as good a grace as he could, attempted to palliate his neglect of Gemellus by pleading his infirm ftate of health, and retirement from the

world

world-he had put him into the hands of his friend, who was prefent, and as he beft knew what answer to give to the proposal in question, he referred his lordship to him and would abide by his decifion-he was glad to hear fo favourable, an account of him-it was far beyond his expectations; he hoped his lordship's partiality would not be deceived in him, and he was thankful for the kind expreffions he had thrown out of his future good offices and protection.-The noble vifitor now defired leave to introduce his fon, who was waiting in the coach, and hoped Gemellus might be allowed to pay his duty at the fame time. This was a furprize upon Euphorion, which he could not parry, and the young friends were immediately ushered in by the exulting lawyer. Gemellus commanded himself with great addrefs; but the father's look, when he first discovered an elegant and manly youth in the bloom of health and comeliness, with an open countenance, where genius, courage and philanthropy were characterized, is not to be described: It was a mixt expreffion of fhame, conviction and repentance; nature had her fhare in it; parental love feemed to catch a glance, as it were, by ftealth; he was filent, and his lips quivered with the fuppreft emotions of his heart. Gemellus approached and made an humble obeifance;

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