earth. Be not swayed by your affection for me: beware of any such
weakness. That you could love him if you would permit yourself, nay
that you are obliged to exert your whole force not to love him, I am
convinced. You are conscious of it yourself.--Is your decision
just?--Indeed it is a serious question. What is the magnitude of the
evil which would result from such a union; and what the good?
Enquire--I give no opinion. There is a mist before my eyes, and I dare
not give any, till I can see more distinctly. Think, be just, and
resolve. Your own judgment ought to determine you.




LETTER XI

_Frank Henley to Oliver Trenchard_

_London, Grosvenor-Street_

Oliver, what are we? What is man? What is virtue? What is honour?--My
pride has received a wound much more acute than that which the ball of
the highwayman inflicted on my body--I have had money palmed upon
me--Money!--A man cannot behave as he ought, and as it would be
contemptible not to behave, but he must be paid! His vices are paid!
His virtues are paid!--All is mercenary! I to be sure must be one of
the number!--A twenty pound bank note, I tell thee, forced upon me by
Sir Arthur!--No, no--Not by him--He never could have made me accept
what I supposed [falsely, however; as fact and reflection have since
led me to suspect] it was mean and degrading to accept. She only could
prevail. She whose commands are irresistible, and who condescended to