, I think, and that he
himself has newly lost a father, as well as I; but takes this time to
torment me, which appears (at least to me) so barbarous a cruelty, that
though I thank God I have charity enough perfectly to forgive all the
injury he can do me, yet I am afraid I shall never look upon him as a
brother more. And now do you judge whether I am not very unhappy, and
whether that sadness in my face you used to complain of was not suited
to my fortune. You must confess it; and that my kindness for you is
beyond example, all these troubles are persecutions that make me weary
of the world before my time, and lessen the concernment I have for you,
and instead of being persuaded as they would have me by their malicious
stories, methinks I am obliged to love you more in recompense of all the
injuries they have done you upon my score. I shall need nothing but my
own heart to fortify me in this resolution, and desire nothing in return
of it but that your care of yourself may answer to that which I shall
always have for your interests.

I received your letter of the 10th of this month; and I hope this will
find you at your journey's end. In earnest, I have pitied your sister
extremely, and can easily apprehend how troublesome this voyage must
needs be to her, by knowing what others have been to me; yet, pray
assure her I would not scruple at undertaking it myself to gain such an
acquaintance, and would go much farther than where (I hope) she now is
to serve her. I am afraid she will not think me a fit person to choose
for a friend, that cannot agree with my own brother; but I must trust
you to tell my story for me, and will hope for a better character from
you than he gives me; who, lest I should complain, resolves to prevent
me, and possess my friends first that he is the injured party. I never
magnified my patience to you, but I begin to have a good opinion on't
since this trial; yet, perhaps, I have no reason, and it may be as well
a want of sense in me as of passion; however, you will not be displeased
to know that I can endure all that he or anybody else can say, and that
setting aside my father's death and your absence, I make nothing an
affliction to me, though I am sorry, I confess, to see myself forc'd to
keep such distances with one of his relations, because religion and
nature and the custom of world teaches otherwise. I see I shall not be
able to satisfy you in this how I shall dispose of myself, for my
brother