Page:Edgar Huntly, or The Sleep Walker.djvu/48

 to his interest, and was not to be misled by specious appearances. If my affection had not stimulated my diligence, I should have found sufficient motives in the behaviour of his mother: she condescended to express her reliance on my integrity and judgment; she was not ashamed to manifest at parting the tenderness of a mother, and to acknowledge that all her tears were not shed on her son's account. I had my part in the regrets that called them forth.

"During our absence, I was my master's constant attendant. I corresponded with his mother, and made the conduct of her son the principal theme of my letters. I deemed it my privilege, as well as duty, to sit in judgment on his actions, to form my opinions without regard to selfish considerations, and to avow them whenever the avowal tended to benefit. Every letter which I wrote, particularly those in which his behaviour was freely criticised, I allowed him to peruse. I would on no account connive at or participate in the slightest irregularity; I knew the duty of my station, and assumed no other control: than that which resulted from the avoiding of deceit, and the open expression of my sentiments. The youth was of a noble spirit, but his firmness was wavering: he yielded to temptations which a censor less rigorous than I would have regarded as venial, or perhaps laudable. My duty required me to set before him the consequences of his actions, and to give impartial and timely information to his mother.

"He could not brook a monitor: the more he needed reproof, the less supportable it became. My company grew every day less agreeable, till at length there appeared a necessity of parting. A separation took place, but not as enemies; I never lost his respect: in his representations to his mother, he was just to my character and services. My dismission was not allowed to injure my fortune; and his mother considered this event merely as a new proof of the inflexible consistency of my principles.

"On this change in my situation, she proposed to me to become a member of her own family. No proposal could be more acceptable: I was fully acquainted with the