Pagina 421 di 817

His resentment was in proportion to the distress of his

circumstances--and he was doubtless as violent in his abuse of me

to others as in his reproaches to myself. After this period,

every appearance of acquaintance was dropped. How he lived, I

know not. But last summer he was again most painfully obtruded on

my notice. I must now mention a circumstance which I would wish

to forget myself, and which no obligation less than the present

should induce me to unfold to any human being. Having said thus

much, I feel no doubt of your secrecy. My sister, who is more

than ten years my junior, was left to the guardianship of my

mother's nephew, Colonel Fitzwilliam, and myself. About a year

ago, she was taken from school, and an establishment formed for

her in London; and last summer she went with the lady who

presided over it to Ramsgate; and thither also went Mr. Wickham,

undoubtedly by design; for there proved to have been a prior

acquaintance between him and Mrs.