the field into a bye path, when my father appeared before me,
advancing in an opposite direction; to avoid him was impossible,
and I summoned my fortitude to a conflict with his passion.

As soon as we met, instead of anger and upbraiding, he told
me, that he had been reflecting on my aunt's proposal, to take me
under her protection, and had concluded that the plan was proper;
if I still retained my wishes on that head, he would readily comply
with them, and that, if I chose, I might set off for the city next
morning, as a neighbours waggon was preparing to go.

I shall not dwell on the rapture with which this proposal was
listened to: it was with difficulty that I persuaded myself that
he was in earnest in making it, nor could divine the reasons, for
so sudden and unexpected a change in his maxims. . . . These I
afterwards discovered. Some one had instilled into him fears, that
my aunt exasperated at his opposition to her request, respecting
the unfortunate Frank, would bequeath her property to strangers; to
obviate this evil, which his avarice prompted him to regard as much
greater than any mischief, that would accrue to me, from the change
of my abode, he embraced her proposal.

I entered with exultation and triumph on this new scene; my
hopes were by no means disappointed. Detested labour was exchanged
for luxurious idleness. I was master of my time, and the chuser of
my occupations. My kinswoman on discovering that I entertained no
relish for the drudgery of colleges, and was contented with the
means of intellectual gratification, which I could obtain under her
roof, allowed me to pursue my own choice.