nd to consult such a one as
me upon the state of your family? does your most amiable and beloved son
incur the ill-will of his brothers and kinsmen for my sake? What am I,
that I should disturb the peace of this noble family? Oh, my lord, send
me away directly! I should be unworthy to live, if I did not earnestly
endeavour to restore your happiness. You have given me a noble
education, and I trust I shall not disgrace it. If you will recommend
me, and give me a character, I fear not to make my own fortune."

The Baron wiped his eyes; "I wish to do this, my child, but in what way?"

"My lord," said Edmund, "I will open my heart to you. I have served with
credit in the army, and I should prefer a soldier's life."

"You please me well," said the Baron; "I will send you to France, and
give you a recommendation to the Regent; he knows you personally, and
will prefer you, for my sake, and for your own merit."

"My lord, you overwhelm me with your goodness! I am but your creature,
and my life shall be devoted to your service."

"But," said the Baron, "how to dispose of you till the spring?"

"That," said Oswald, "may be thought of at leisure; I am glad that you
have resolved, and I congratulate you both." The Baron put an end to the
conversation by desiring Edmund to go with him into the menage to see
his horses. He ordered Oswald to acquaint his son William with all that
had passed, and to try to persuade the young men to meet Edmund and
William at dinner.

The Baron took Edmund with him into his menage to see some horses he had
lately purchased; while they were examining the beauties and defects
of these noble and useful animals, Edmund declared that he preferred
Caradoc, a horse he had broke himself, to any other in my lord's
stables. "Then," said the Baron, "I will give him to you; and you shall
go upon him to seek your fortune." He made new acknowledgments for this
gift, and declared he would prize it highly for the giver's sake. "But
I shall not part with you yet," said my lord; "I will first carry all my
points with these saucy boys, and oblige them to do you justice."

"You have already done that," said Edmund; "and I will not suffer any
of your Lordship's blood to undergo any farther humiliation upon my
account. I think, with humble submission to your better judgment, the
sooner I go hence the better."

While they were speaking, Oswald came to them, and said, that the young
men had absolutely refused to dine