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160 years, launched into thoughtless expenses and actions, in every way unworthy of my son, from whom a very different conduct might have been expected, your present difficulties testify. Of such I have received information, and it remains for me only to hope the detail has been exaggerated."

Dispirited and perplexed, De Brooke hesitatingly replied: "It is but too true, sir, I stand convicted; I can but avow my error by the confession, that I have unfortunately learned wisdom, alas! too late, I have already made retrenchments, and I trust, by further economies, I shall in a short time recover my losses."

"I imagine", said Sir Aubrey, "that you blind yourself with false expectations:" but after a pause, during which he seemed revolving some important point, he added; "Attend to me, Aubrey; attend to the proposals I am going to make you; if you disregard them, you alienate yourself from me for ever! If you follow them, and the measures I shall prescribe, you will reinstate yourself in my good opinion; you will entirely restore yourself to my lost favour and esteem: my purse is yours, you may command it; your present embarrassments shall be mine, no matter to what extent; I will set you free from them all. You