(9)
ſchool fellows had named to that employment, to which I gave the leiſure hours of three years, perhaps the moſd pleaſant in my life. It was then that I had repealed opportunities to fee Bsnaparte, who, perhaps, in preference to me, ought to have been choſen the librarian; but our companions thought otherwiſe; and probably he would have diſdained the appointment, believing all the moments loſt to his own inſtruction which he muſt have ſacraficed to the minute detail of ſuch an office. However that may be, his calls became ſo very frequent as to render me unreaſonably out of humour. It is in the nature of man, and, in mv own juſtification, not leſs in that of children, to arrogate to themſelves, by degrees, all the privileges of authority. It was, indeed, my duty, to have been complaſant, but I found it more convenient to be capricous. Plagued by demands ſo often repeated, I ſometimes pretended to miſtake his application for teaſing and intentional importunities; and ſometimes, alſo, I had reaſon to repent my rudeneſs. Bonaparte young, was not more patient, nor leſs poſitive than now, and has made me frequently feel, that it was almoſt unſafe to provoke him. At that time I ſhould have been aſlianted to own it, but at preſent ſuch a confeſſion is not ſo painful.
Reſerved in his temper, and wholly occupied by his own purſuits, Boneparte courted that ſolitude which ſeemed to conſtitute
