me? Would he not have hastened to relieve me from a sense of obligations by nobly making me independent, and rendering my separation from my family unnecessary?—Could he not have resigned over one of his estates to me as a residence I might have called my own? Does he seem to have a feeling heart, or regret the loss of a parent ever good and bountiful to him? Has he not discharged the old servants, grown grey in the service of the family, with only the small legacies (much less, indeed, than I expected the munificent spirit of my father would have bequeathed to them) so insufficient for the support of their old age? Are not these many proofs of a heart deficient in generosity, and a right way of thinking? Tormented by these and many other doubts, he exclaimed, "Would to Heaven I could read his heart, that I might do him justice!" A deep and hollow voice cried, "It is a corrupt one!!!"
Ferdinand sprung from his seat, looked wildly round the room: "Astonishing! (he
