so entirely devoted as he was to his pleasures. He kept no house; had
no equipage: Nobody pretended that he wanted pride: the reason
therefore was easy to be guessed at.' And then did she boast of, and
my brother praised her for, refusing him: and both joined on all
occasions to depreciate him, and not seldom made the occasions; their
displeasure against him causing every subject to run into this, if it
began not with it.

I was not solicitous to vindicate him when I was not joined in their
reflection. I told them I did not value him enough to make a
difference in the family on his account: and as he was supposed to
have given much cause for their ill opinion of him, I thought he ought
to take the consequence of his own faults.

Now and then indeed, when I observed that their vehemence carried them
beyond all bounds of probability in their charges against him, I
thought it but justice to put in a word for him. But this only
subjected me to reproach, as having a prepossession in his favour
which I would not own.--So that, when I could not change the subject,
I used to retire either to my music, or to my closet.

Their behaviour to him, when they could not help seeing him, was very
cold and disobliging; but as yet not directly affrontive. For they
were in hopes of prevailing upon my father to forbid his visits. But
as there was nothing in his behaviour, that might warrant such a
treatment of a man of his birth and fortune, they succeeded not: And
then they were very earnest with me to forbid them. I asked, what
authority I had to take such a step in my father's house; and when my
behaviour to him was so distant, that he seemed to be as much the
guest of any other person of the family, themselves excepted, as