ty that Glastonbury could contrive that Miss
Grandison's wishes should be complied with; but at length he succeeded
in getting Sir Ratcliffe to sit down to dinner, and affecting a
cheerfulness which was far from his spirit, the hour of ten at length
arrived, and Glastonbury, before retiring to his tower, paid his evening
visit to Ferdinand.

CHAPTER XIII.

_In Which the Family Perplexities Rather Increase
than Diminish_.

IF EVER there were a man who deserved a serene and happy life it was
Adrian Glastonbury. He had pursued a long career without injuring or
offending a human being; his character and conduct were alike spotless;
he was void of guile; he had never told a falsehood, never been
entangled in the slightest deceit; he was easy in his circumstances;
he had no relations to prey upon his purse or his feelings; and, though
alone in the world, was blessed with such a sweet and benignant temper,
gifted with so many resources, and adorned with so many accomplishments,
that he appeared to be always employed, amused, and contented. And yet,
by a strange contrariety of events, it appeared that this excellent
person was now placed in a situation which is generally the consequence
of impetuous passions not very scrupulous in obtaining their ends. That
breast, which heretofore would have shrunk from being analysed only
from the refined modesty of its nature, had now become the depository of
terrible secrets: the day could scarcely pass over without finding
him in a position which rendered equivocation on his part almost
a necessity, while all the anxieties inseparable from pecuniary
embarrassments were forced upon his attention, and his feelings were
racked from sympathy with individuals who were bound to him by no other
tie, but to whose welfare he felt himself engaged to sacrifice all his
pursuits, and devote all his time and labour. And yet he did not murmur,
although he had scarcely hope to animate him. In whatever light he
viewed coming events, they appeared ominous only of evil. All that
he aimed at now was to soothe and support, and it was his unshaken
confidence in Providence that alone forbade him to despair.

When he repaired to the Place in the morning he found everything in
confusion. Miss Grandison was very unwell; and Lady Armine, frightened
by the recent danger from which they had escaped, very alarmed. She
could no longer conceal from Ferdinand that his Katherine was here, and
p