"But Reed left children?--you must have cousins? Sir George Lynn was talking of a Reed of Gateshead yesterday, who, he said, was one of the veriest rascals on town; and Ingram was mentioning a Georgiana Reed of the same place, who was much admired for her beauty a season or two ago in London."

     "John Reed is dead, too, sir: he ruined himself and half-ruined his family, and is supposed to have committed suicide. The news so shocked his mother that it brought on an apoplectic attack."

     "And what good can you do her? Nonsense, Jane! I would never think of running a hundred miles to see an old lady who will, perhaps, be dead before you reach her: besides, you say she cast you off."

     "Yes, sir, but that is long ago; and when her circumstances were very different: I could not be easy to neglect her wishes now."

     "How long will you stay?"

     "As short a time as possible, sir."

     "Promise me only to stay a week--"

     "I had better not pass my word: I might be obliged to break it."

     "At all events you will come back: you will not be induced under any pretext to take up a permanent residence with her?"