has been included amongst those who had a right to expect promotion; and more particularly yourself, on account of your recent services in Portugal."
Some officious friends of Sir Aubrey, acting as it were like spies upon the conduct of his son, and loving to represent defects through the magnifying glass of calumny, had not failed, from time to time, to make reports to his father relative to his various extravagances; others again, in consideration of his many better qualities, or, from motives of benevolence, endeavoured, if not to extenuate them, at least to throw over them the veil of charity: nevertheless, from the entanglement of his affairs, they had become but too plainly obvious to Sir Aubrey; and his mind in consequence laboured under impressions of a nature not to allow him openly to acknowledge that it was by any intercession of his that his son's promotion had been obtained. Thus, whatever might be the secret motive of Sir Aubrey in forwarding the welfare of his son, he was very far from receiving gratification in the thanks due to him for so doing.
The breach of confidence and attachment existing between Sir Aubrey and his son, was to be repaired but by the compliance of the latter with one sole condition, and he felt a repugnance to any
