not be found to deserve heavy blame, I shall then
perhaps have the benefit of her advice, as well as your. And if, after
a re-establishment in her favour, I shall wilfully deserve blame for the
time to come, I will be content to be denied yours as well as hers for
ever.

As to cramping my spirit, as you call it, (were I to sit down to write
what I know your mother must see,) that, my dear, is already cramped.
And do not think so unhandsomely of your mother, as to fear that she
would make partial constructions against me. Neither you nor I can
doubt, but that, had she been left unprepossessedly to herself, she
would have shown favour to me. And so, I dare say, would my uncle
Antony. Nay, my dear, I can extend my charity still farther: for I am
sometimes of opinion, that were my brother and sister absolutely certain
that they had so far ruined me in the opinion of both my uncles, as that
they need not be apprehensive of my clashing with their interests,
they would not oppose a pardon, although they might not wish a
reconciliation; especially if I would make a few sacrifices to them:
which, I assure you, I should be inclined to make were I wholly free,
and independent on this man. You know I never valued myself upon worldly
acquisitions, but as they enlarged my power to do things I loved to
do. And if I were denied the power, I must, as I now do, curb my
inclination.

Do not however thing me guilty of an affectation in what I have said
of my brother and sister. Severe enough I am sure it is, in the most
favourable sense. And an indifferent person will be of opinion, that
they are much better warranted than ever, for the sake of the family
honour, to seek to ruin me in the favour of all my friends.

But to the former topic--try, my dear, if your mother will, upon the
condition above given, permit our correspondence, on seeing all we
write. But if she will not, what a selfishness would there be in my love
to you, were I to wish you to forego your duty for my sake?

And now, one word, as to the freedom I have treated you with in this
tedious expostulary address. I presume upon your forgiveness of it,
because few friendships are founded on such a basis as ours: which
is, 'freely to give reproof, and thankfully to receive it as occasions
arise; that so either may have opportunity to clear up mistakes, to
acknowledge and amend errors, as well in behaviour as in words and
deeds; and to rectify and confirm each other in the ju