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Younge, in whose character we were most unhappily deceived; and

by her connivance and aid he so far recommended himself to

Georgiana, whose affectionate heart retained a strong impression

of his kindness to her as a child, that she was persuaded to

believe herself in love and to consent to an elopement. She was

then but fifteen, which must be her excuse; and after stating her

imprudence, I am happy to add, that I owed the knowledge of it to

herself. I joined them unexpectedly a day or two before the

intended elopement; and then Georgiana, unable to support the

idea of grieving and offending a brother whom she almost looked

up to as a father, acknowledged the whole to me. You may imagine

what I felt and how I acted. Regard for my sister's credit and

feelings prevented any public exposure; but I wrote to Mr.

Wickham, who left the place immediately, and Mrs. Younge was of

course removed from her charge. Mr.