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194 father. That pride and ambition which had so eagerly led him to desire a wealthy union for his son, had received its greatest check, and with its total frustration he felt humbled to a level with the dust.

"Had I married him to the daughter of De Brooke," exclaimed he, tearing his silver locks, "oh, had I married him to Oriana, to the object of his affections, this would not have been,—I should not have seen this day's misery!"

Frantic with the agony of his feelings, he bewailed his loss, giving a lesson to those worldly parents, had such been present, who, from selfish views, most unjustifiably sacrifice the virtuous inclinations of their children,—a lesson by which they might have profited. He was insensible to aught besides his son, who lay inanimate and lifeless before him.

Notwithstanding the influence of his son's example, Mr. Philimore had never lived a life strictly moral; without a profession, or occupation of any sort, living upon his means, with several sons to advance in life, of whom Edmund Philimore was the elder, he had not been over circumspect in the improvement of his fortunes. The death of that son so much beloved above the rest, snatched from him in the full flower of intellect and vigour of days, called him at last, in the evening of his life, to reflection: and in the reformation of the father an unerring and merciful Hand might be visible, as, aided by the enlightened conversation of Dr. Lovesworth, he was led