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164 the Doctor, "seen his error before it became too extensive to retreat."

"Alas," said the General, "no intercessions, no influence, no persuasions of mine have been of avail; those of yourself or Philimore, had you been acquainted with the object, might have been so. As, for example, in the case now before us, the change wrought in that man, the Curate, in so short a time, is astonishing!"

"Perverse, and obstinately bent upon adhering to his own opinions," added the Doctor, "he has now, from having been led to discern his errors, become, in the hands of Philimore, a mild and docile spirit."

"Excellent young man!" exclaimed the General, "had I a fortune to bestow on my daughters, I would willingly give one of them to him; but devoid even of a certain competency, as is also Philimore, if I judge right, he will be too discreet to think of marriage in my family."

"Most undoubtedly," replied the Doctor; "deficient in such pretensions, he could never think of aspiring to a union with one of the Misses De Brooke."

"Affluence, my good friend," returned the General, pleased to find he agreed with him, "may