ow, my dear boy, as to the rest of your letter. Mine must
indeed have failed to express my meaning. God forbid that there
should not be the most perfect confidence between us. There is
nothing which I desire or value more. I only question whether
special confessions will conduce to it. My experience is against
them. I almost doubt whether they can be perfectly honest between
man and man; and, taking into account the difference of our ages,
it seems to be much more likely that we should misunderstand one
another. But having said this, I leave it to you to follow your
own conscience in the matter. If there is any burthen which I can
help you to bear, it will be my greatest pleasure, as it is my
duty, to do it. So now, say what you please, or say no more. If
you speak, it will be to one who has felt and remembers a young
man's trials.

"We hope you will be able to come home to-morrow, or the next
day, at latest. Your mother is longing to see you, and I should
be glad to have you here a day or two before the assizes, which
are held next week. I should rather like you to accompany me to
them, as it will give me the opportunity of introducing you to my
brother magistrates from other parts of the county, whom you are
not likely to meet elsewhere, and it is a good thing for a young
man to know his own county well.

"The cricket club is very flourishing, you will be glad to hear,
and they have put off their best matches till your return; so you
are in great request, you see. I am told that the fishing is very
good this year, and am promised several days for you in the club
water.

"September is a long way off, but there is nothing like being
before hand; I have put your name down for a license; and it is
time you should have a good gun of your own; so I have ordered
one for you from a man who has lately settled in the county. He
was Purdy's foreman, with whom I used to build, and, I can see,
understands his business thoroughly. His locks are as good as any
I have ever seen. I have told him to make the stock rather
longer, and not quite so straight as that of my old double with
which you shot last year. I think I remember you criticized my
weapon on these points; but there will be time for you to alter
the details after you get home, if you disapprove of my orders.
It will be more satisfactory if it is built under your own eye.

"If you continue in the mind for a month's reading with your
friend Mr. Hardy, we will arrange