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152 parent, and subsequent circumstances attending his marriage, had doubtless given rise to subjects for much serious meditation; but like the rest of human kind, when under the influence of some strong persuasion or ruling fault, De Brooke, in attending to the reproofs of his understanding, suppressed for a while his habitual extravagance, so that it appeared in a degree extinct; but weary at length of such an arbitrary control, those inward dictates weakened, and the former propensity was renewed, with perhaps increased inveteracy, proving that it is by dear-bought experience of the consequences, and humiliation resulting from a faulty course of conduct, that man alone derives reform.

Had the lot of De Brooke cast him in a circle more remote from the capital, he might doubtless have learned to limit his notions of taste and elegance to his circumstances. As the son of Sir Aubrey, and with a certain rank in the army, he could not but with painful sensibility and feelings of humiliation picture to himself the comparisons the world might form to his disadvantage, did he not support his name, and reflect credit upon himself by his style and manner of living.

Fondly attached to her infant, Mrs. De Brooke was frequently occupied in superintending the