ward; and, as time helped to allay the sorrowful recollections in which he had indulged, now that he had the satisfaction of seeing his master on his legs again, as he called his recovery, and felt himself relieved from the consequent cares attendant on his late illness, he renewed his inquiries respecting the Baronet.
But every attempt proving vain, he found he had entered upon a labyrinth of perplexities; led here and there by erroneous directions, the end of his pursuit appeared unattainable; and yet to relinquish it, seemed in a manner to forswear himself, having vowed to his master that he would come to the bottom of that nefarious business or perish! In truth he would rather have perished than not to have had it in his power to restore the money. With a temper so ardent, without proportionate education to moderate its impulses, he became the prey of an inward disquietude, not more on his master's than his own personal account.
In the range his fancy took, it appeared to him, keenly susceptible as was his nature, under the adverse circumstances of his master, that he might be considered as an encumbrance, and as a tax upon him; more particularly, as they lived alone, without their children, his services might be dispensed with. This idea once suggested, and by
