pirits. He
walked in the garden till the hour of breakfast, and then attended the
Baron.

"Good morrow, Edmund!" said he; "how have you rested in your new
apartment?"

"Extremely well, my lord," answered he.

"I am glad to hear it," said the Baron; "but I did not know your
accommodations were so bad, as Joseph tells me they are."

"'Tis of no consequence," said Edmund; "if they were much worse, I could
dispense with them for three nights."

"Very well," said the Baron; "you are a brave lad; I am satisfied with
you, and will excuse the other two nights."

"But, my lord, I will not be excused; no one shall have reason to
suspect my courage; I am determined to go through the remaining nights
upon many accounts."

"That shall be as you please," said my Lord. "I think of you as you
deserve; so well, that I shall ask your advice by and by in some affairs
of consequence."

"My life and services are yours, my lord; command them freely."

"Let Oswald be called in," said my Lord; "he shall be one of our
consultation." He came; the servants were dismissed; and the Baron spoke
as follows:

"Edmund, when first I took you into my family, it was at the request of
my sons and kinsmen; I bear witness to your good behaviour, you have not
deserved to lose their esteem; but, nevertheless, I have observed
for some years past, that all but my son William have set their faces
against you; I see their meanness, and I perceive their motives: but
they are, and must be, my relations; and I would rather govern them by
love, than fear. I love and esteem your virtues: I cannot give you up
to gratify their humours. My son William has lost the affections of the
rest, for that he bears to you; but he has increased my regard for him;
I think myself bound in honour to him and you to provide for you; I
cannot do it, as I wished, under my own roof. If you stay here, I see
nothing but confusion in my family; yet I cannot put you out of it
disgracefully. I want to think of some way to prefer you, that you may
leave this house with honour; and I desire both of you to give me your
advice in this matter. If Edmund will tell me in what way I can employ
him to his own honour and my advantage, I am ready to do it; let him
propose it, and Oswald shall moderate between us."

Here he stopped; and Edmund, whose sighs almost choked him, threw
himself at the Baron's feet, and wet his hand with his tears: "Oh, my
noble, generous benefactor! do you condesce