 life happy, it was immaterial what became of him; and that since he must be miserable, it might as well be in following as in flying from what he still thought was in some degree a duty—completing the engagement he had made to his mother on her death bed. In doing this, he should

gratify all his surviving relations, and retrieve his estate, which he must otherwise sell, as the mortgages upon it were rapidly devouring it: and to do this was, as he sometimes tried to persuade himself, to pay a debt he owed his ancestors. He had been educated by his mother in high ideas of the consequence and respectability, not only of her family but of that of his father; but of these prejudices his natural good sense had suffered very little to remain; so that if he now endeavoured to recall them in support of those arguments which he ran over in favour of his marriage, his understanding immediately revolted against them.
"I shall not-only retrieve," said he, "but augment my fortune: not only save Alvestone, but add to my present estates the family possessions of my mother, which will otherwise become the property of strangers: the honours too so long inherited by her ancestors will be mine."
He frequently made efforts to fix his mind on these advantages; but the moment

he began seriously to investigate their value, he beheld them with contempt.
"Ridiculous!" cried he. "My ancestors! What is this foolish family pride, for which I am meditating to sell my freedom, in acquiescence with narrow prejudice? I shall have a large estate: but will it make me happier in myself, or more respected by those whose respect can afford me any pleasure? I shall be called "my Lord"—a mighty satisfaction truly! The vulgar—for with such empty sounds the vulgar only are delighted—will bow low to my Lordship, and I shall take place at county meetings above the neighbouring Esquires who are now my equals. I shall have a bauble called a coronet painted on my coach doors and my hall chairs, and shall become one of the legislature, qualified for it only by the possession of that bauble. Perhaps half a dozen or half a hundred men and women of poor ambition, may court the notice and boast of the acquaintance of Lord Castlenorth, who would have let Mr. Willoughby remain

unmolested by their kindness, and by such friends my house will be infested and my leisure destroyed. But I shall go to Court, and be named as having appeared at the drawing room; that will be very delectable certainly: and
