Page:Stories after Nature.pdf/96



WO Englishmen, named Edmund and Edward, were friends; that is, in the full sense of the word, for this tale will show wherein friendship consists; its disinterestedness, its total unselfish and honourable love of another's happiness.

These two were left, at the age of eighteen, orphans; Edmund had a small fortune, but Edward none. This mattered not much, for what belonged to one was equally the other's; and the demon money was (as their pleasures) a mutual benefit, divided equally between them.

It happened that Edmund fell in love with a young lady, whom he had casually met; but he had lost all traces of her, and never could hear of her afterwards. Edward, seeing his melancholy, did all he could to engage his mind; and,