your trunk (of which I hope you will some time, when your mind is less
exalted, find the key), nor shall I stir in the difficult case of Flora's
legacy. When next you write your will, let me, for the sake of your
executor, advise you to be more precise in your directions; for what can
be done if you order him to give and burn the same thing in the same
sentence? As you have, amongst your other misfortunes, the misfortune to
be born heir to five or six thousand a year, you should learn a little
how to manage your own affairs, lest you should, amongst your _poor_ or
_rich_ companions, meet with some who are not quite so honest as
yourself.

"If, instead of returning to dine with us, you should persist in your
gardening scheme, I shall have less esteem for your good sense, but I
shall forbear to reproach you. I shall leave you to learn by your own
experience, if it be not in my power to give you the advantages of mine
gratis. But, at the same time, I shall discover where you are, and shall
inform myself exactly of all your proceedings. This, as your guardian, is
my duty. I should further warn you, that I shall not, whilst you choose
to live in a rank below your own, supply you with your customary yearly
allowance. Two hundred guineas a year would be an extravagant allowance
in your present circumstances. I do not mention money with any idea of
influencing your generous mind by mercenary motives; but it is necessary
that you should not deceive yourself by inadequate experiments: you
cannot be rich and poor at the same time. I gave you the day before
yesterday five ten-pound notes for your last quarterly allowance; I
suppose you have taken these with you, therefore you cannot be in any
immediate distress for money. I am sorry, I own, that you are so well
provided, because a man who has fifty guineas in his pocket-book cannot
distinctly feel what it is to be compelled to earn his own bread.