Page:The Mysterious Warning - Parsons (1796, volume 4).djvu/258

 "Excuse me, Sir, good Sir excuse me, not to-day, I cannot; give me time to recover myself; I cannot obey you now."

"Dear Ernest, obedience and command exists no longer between us; I will oblige you now, but from this day we have no separate tables. Within an hour I hope you will join us to drink a health to all our friends."

"I will, I will attend you, Sir (cried he, still sobbing) but spare me for the present." The friends withdrew.

"I honour you, my dear friend (said the Count) for the deserved kindness you have shown that good man. Would to Heaven that such instances were more frequent, that virtue, and goodness of heart, should be the only distinguishing mark to exact respect and attention; hereditary honours, when disgraced by improper and disorderly conduct, ought, in my opinion, to be classed far beneath the poorest upright man, whilst principles, and a mind like Ernest's would grace a diadem."