of my son! My dearest child, you were not thinking of me! My
son affectionately loved me, and his son will love me also. My old age
will not be so miserable as I expected, and the evening of my life will
not pass without some joy. I shall depart in peace!--But I forget that
by detaining you, I may expose you to your mother's anger. Go, my dear
child, for I do not wish that my joy should cost you tears. Go, love
your mother, and obey her commands, even though you should not come and
see me. Come and see me if you can; but do not disobey or tell a story
on any account."

He then turned to Charlotte, and said, though he then did not wish her
to stay, for fear of offending her parents, yet he hoped she would come
again. He then dismissed them, giving them a hearty blessing, and the
two children walked away hand in hand. Charlotte got home safe before
her parents, who were not long after her, when she told them every
thing that had passed, which furnished an agreeable conversation for the
evening.

The next day they all went to see the good old man, and afterwards
frequently repeated their visits. Francis also came to see his
grandfather, who was rejoiced to hear him speak, and to receive his
affectionate caresses. Francis, on his side, was equally rejoiced,
excepting when he did not meet with Charlotte, for then he went home
sorrowful and sad.

The nearer Francis arrived to manhood, the more his affections for
Charlotte increased; and accordingly, when he was old enough to marry,
he would think of no other woman, though she was not rich. The old man
lived to see them married and happy, and then finally closed his eyes
in peace.

[Illustration]

+--------------------------------------------------------------+
| Transcriber's Note: |
| |
| In the Contents, page 113 for the chapter titled "Alfred and |
| Dorinda" has been changed to 118. |
| |
| Page 20, double closing quotation mark has been added to the |
| end of the chapter--ruin." |
| |
| Page 25, closing quotation mark has been removed--munched |
| alive. |
|