battle.
    Falkland, I have been thinking about you. I do not know any one whose future
usefulness I contemplate with greater hope. Take care of yourself. Do not let
the world be defrauded of your virtues. I am acquainted with your weakness as
well as your strength. You have an impetuosity and an impatience of imagined
dishonour, that, if once set wrong, may make you as eminently mischievous, as
you will otherwise be useful. Think seriously of exterminating this error!
    But, if I cannot, in the brief expostulation my present situation will
allow, produce this desirable change in you, there is at least one thing I can
do. I can put you upon your guard against a mischief I foresee to be imminent.
Beware of Mr. Tyrrel. Do not commit the mistake of despising him as an unequal
opponent. Petty causes may produce great mischiefs. Mr. Tyrrel is boisterous,
rugged and unfeeling; and you are too passionate, too acutely sensible of
injury. It would be truly to be lamented, if a man so inferior, so utterly
unworthy to be compared with you, should be capable of changing your whole
history into misery and guilt. I have a painful presentiment upon my heart, as
if something dreadful would reach you from that quarter. Think of this. I exact
no promise from you. I would not shackle you with the fetters of superstition; I
would have you governed by reason and justice.
    Mr. Falkland was deeply affected with this expostulation. His sense of the
generous attention of Mr. Clare at such a moment, was so great as almost to
deprive him of utterance. He spoke in short sentences and with visible effort. I
will behave better, replied he. Never fear me! Your admonitions shall not be
thrown away upon me.
    Mr. Clare adverted to another subject. I have made you my executor; you will
not refuse me this last office of friendship. It is but a short time that I have
had the happiness of knowing you; but in that short time I have examined you
well, and seen you thoroughly. Do not disappoint the sanguine hope I have
entertained!
    I have left some legacies. My former connections, while I lived amidst the
busy haunts of men, as many of them as were intimate, are all of them dear to
me. I have not had time to summon them about me upon the present occasion, nor
did I desire it. The remembrances of me will, I hope, answer a better purpose
than such as are usually thought of on similar occasions.
    Mr. Clare, having