have already said, all intercourse of
visiting his neighbours. He debarred himself every kind of amusement and
relaxation. He shrunk from the society of his fellows, and thought he could
never be sufficiently buried in obscurity and solitude. This principle was in
most cases of no difficult execution to a man of firmness. But Mr. Falkland knew
not how to avoid the visit of Mr. Forester. This gentleman was just returned
from a residence of several years upon the continent, and his demand of an
apartment in the house of his half-brother till his own house at the distance of
thirty miles should be prepared for his reception, was made with an air of
confidence that scarcely admitted of a refusal. Mr. Falkland could only allege
that the state of his health and spirits was such, that he feared a residence at
his house would be little agreeable to his kinsman; and Mr. Forester conceived
that this was a disqualification which would always augment in proportion as it
was tolerated, and hoped that his society, by inducing Mr. Falkland to suspend
his habits of seclusion, would be the means of essential benefit. Mr. Falkland
opposed him no farther. He would have been sorry to be thought unkind to a
kinsman for whom he had a particular esteem; and the consciousness of not daring
to assign the true reason, made him cautious of adhering to his objection.
    The character of Mr. Forester was in many respects the reverse of that of my
master. His very appearance indicated the singularity of his disposition. His
figure was short and angular. His eyes were sunk far into his head, and were
overhung with eye-brows black, thick and bushy. His complexion was swarthy, and
his lineaments hard. He had seen much of the world; but, to judge of him from
his appearance and manners, one would have thought that he had never moved from
his fire-side.
    His temper was acid, petulant and harsh. He was easily offended by trifles
respecting which, previously to the offence, the persons with whom he had
intercourse, could have no suspicion of such a result. When offended, his
customary behaviour was exceedingly rugged. He thought only of setting the
delinquent right, and humbling him for his error; and, in his eagerness to do
this, overlooked the sensibility of the sufferer, and the pains he inflicted.
Remonstrance, in such a case, he regarded as the offspring of cowardice, which
was to be extirpated with a steady and unshrinking hand, and not soothed with
misjudging kindness and indulgence. As is usual in human character, he had
formed