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60 at least existed on whom he could implicitly rely; one to whom he could confide the secret trying conflicts of his heart, one who would not fail to pour into its lacerated wounds the balm of sympathy and consolation! Rising into a fresh existence by her presence, the demon of despondence was chased, while he endeavoured patiently to await the judgment that was to be passed upon him.

No longer holding any military appointment, and the lease of his house at Bath having expired, the world was before him where to choose. Dismissing the instructors of his daughters, whose proficiency rendered their attendance unnecessary, he decided to remove with his family to London; the motives for taking him thither being the circumstance that it was the seat of Government, the position in respect to it in which he was placed, and above all, the desire he felt to lay the statement of his case before his father. The reception he met with from Sir Aubrey was that which habit had made familiar to him, arising doubtless from parental hope frustrated, and pride mortified.

After a due interval De Brooke besought his kind and impartial hearing while he spoke to him of his affairs, in which he delivered himself with the confidence of one who had met with a