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society； no amusement； till my father’s point was gained。 I had
depended on her fortitude too far； and the blow was a severe
one—but had her marriage been happy； so young as I then was； a
few months must have reconciled me to it； or at least I should not
have now to lament it。 This however was not the case。 My brother
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had no regard for her； his pleasures were not what they ought to
have been； and from the first he treated her unkindly。 The
consequence of this； upon a mind so young； so lively； so
inexperienced as Mrs。 Brandon’s； was but too natural。 She
resigned herself at first to all the misery of her situation； and
happy had it been if she had not lived to overcome those regrets
which the remembrance of me occasioned。 But can we wonder
that； with such a husband to provoke inconstancy； and without a
friend to advise or restrain her； （for my father lived only a few
months after their marriage； and I was with my regiment in the
East Indies） she should fall？ Had I remained in England；
perhaps—but I meant to promote the happiness of both by
removing from her for years； and for that purpose had procured
my exchange。 The shock which her marriage had given me；” he
continued； in a voice of great agitation； “was of trifling weight—
was nothing to what I felt when I heard； about two years
afterwards； of her divorce。 It was that which threw this gloom；—
even now the recollection of what I suffered—”
He could say no more； and rising hastily walked for a few
minutes about the room。 Elinor； affected by his relation； and still
more by his distress； could not speak。 He saw her concern； and
coming to her； took her hand； pressed it； and kissed it with
grateful respect。 A few minutes more of silent exertion enabled
him to proceed with composure。
“It was nearly three years after this unhappy period before I
returned to England。 My first care； when I did arrive； was of
course to seek for her； but the search was as fruitless as it was
melancholy。 I could not trace her beyond her first seducer； and
there was every reason to fear that she had removed from him
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only to sink deeper in a life of sin。 Her legal allowance was not
adequate to her fortune； nor sufficient for her comfortable
maintenance； and I learnt from my brother that the power of
receiving it had been made over some months before to another
person。 He imagined； and calmly could he imagine it； that her
extravagance； and consequent distress； had obliged her to dispose
of it for some immediate relief。 At last； however； and after I had
been six months in England； I did find her。 Regard for a former
servant of my own； who had since fallen into misfortune； carried
me to visit him in a spunging…house； where he was confined for
debt； and there； the same house； under a similar confinement； was
my unfortunate sister。 So altered—so faded—worn down by acute
suffering of every kind！ hardly could I believe the melancholy and
sickly figure before me； to be the remains of the lovely； blooming；
healthful girl； on whom I had once doted。 What I endured in so
beholding her—but I have no right to wound your feelings by
attempting to describe it—I have pained you too much already。
That she was； to all appearance； in the last stage of a consumption；
was—yes； in such a situation it was my greatest comfort。 Life
could do nothing for her； beyond giving time for a better
preparation for death； and that was given。 I saw her placed in
comfortable lodgings； and under proper attendants； I visited her
every day during the rest of her short life； I was with her in her
last moments。”
Again he stopped to recover himself； and Elinor spoke her
feelings in an exclamation of tender concern； at the fate of his
unfortunate friend。
“Your sister； I hope； cannot be offended；” said he； “by the
resemblance I have fancied between her and my poor disgraced
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relation。 Their fates； their fortunes； cannot be the same； and had
the natural sweet disposition of the one been guarded by a firmer
mind； or a happier marriage； she might have been all that you will
live to see the other be。 But to what does all this lead？ I seem to
have been distressing you for nothing。 Ah！ Miss Dashwood—a
subject such as this—untouched for fourteen years—it is
dangerous to handle it at all！ I will be more collected—more
concise。 She left to my care her only child； a little girl； the
offspring of her first guilty connection； who was then about three
years old。 She loved the child； and had always kept it with her。 It
was a valued； a precious trust to me； and gladly would I have
discharged it in the strictest sense； by watching over her education
myself； had the nature of our situations allowed it； but I had no
family； no home； and my little Eliza was therefore placed at school。
I saw her there whenever I could； and after the death of my
brother； （which happened about five years ago； and which left to
me the possession of the family property；） she visited me at
Delaford。 I called her a distant relation； but I am