'Well, my dear, ask your uncle what sort of company he
keeps, and if he is not banded with a set of loose, profligate
young men, whom he calls his friends, his jolly companions,
and whose chief delight is to wallow in vice, and vie with
each other who can run fastest and furthest down the
headlong road to the place prepared for the devil and his
angels.'

Then I will save him from them.'

'Oh, Helen, Helen! you little know the misery of unit-
ing your fortunes to such a man!'

'I have such confidence in him, aunt, notwithstanding
all you say, that I would willingly risk my happiness for
the chance of securing his. I will leave better men to those
who only consider their own advantage. If he has done
amiss, I shall consider my life well spent in saving him
from the consequences of his early errors, and striving
to recall him to the path of virtue. God grant me success!'

Here the conversation ended, for at this juncture my
uncle's voice was heard from his chamber, loudly calling
upon my aunt to come to bed. He was in a bad humour
that night; for his gout was worse. It had been gradually
increasing upon him ever since we came to town; and my
aunt took advantage of the circumstance next morning to
persuade him to return to the country immediately, without
waiting for the close of the season. His physician supported
and enforced her arguments; and contrary to her usual
habits, she so hurried the preparations for removal (as much
for my sake as my uncle's, I think), that in a very few days
we departed; and I saw no more of Mr. Huntingdon. My
aunt flatters herself I shall soon forget him--perhaps she
thinks I have forgotten him already, for I never mention his
name; and she may continue to think so, till we meet
again--if ever that should be. I wonder if it will?

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