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his conduct on this occasion had not squared with his maxims； I should not have imputed to him inconsistency。 I did not ponder on these reasonings at this time： objects of immediate importance engrossed my thoughts。
One obstacle to this measure was removed。 When my voyage was performed how should I subsist in my new abode？ I concealed not my perplexity and he commented on it in his usual manner。 How did I mean to subsist； he asked； in my own country？ The means of living would be； at least； as much within my reach there as here。 As to the pressure of immediate and absolute want； he believed I should be exposed to little hazard。 With talents such as mine； I must be hunted by a destiny peculiarly malignant； if I could not provide myself with necessaries wherever my lot were cast。
He would make allowances； however； for my diffidence and self… distrust； and would obviate my fears by expressing his own intentions with regard to me。 I must be apprized； however； of his true meaning。 He laboured to shun all hurtful and vitious things； and therefore carefully abstained from making or confiding ~~in promises~~。 It was just to assist me in this voyage； and it would probably be equally just to continue to me similar assistance when it was finished。 That indeed was a subject； in a great degree； within my own cognizance。 His aid would be proportioned to my wants and to my merits； and I had only to take care that my claims were just； for them to be admitted。
This scheme could not but appear to me eligible。 I thirsted after an acquaintance with new scenes； my present situation could not be changed for a worse； I trusted to the constancy of Ludloe's friendship； to this at least it was better to trust than to the success of my imposture on Dorothy； which was adopted merely as a desperate expedient： finally I determined to embark with him。
In the course of this voyage my mind was busily employed。 There were no other passengers beside ourselves； so that my own condition and the character of Ludloe； continually presented themselves to my reflections。 It will be supposed that I was not a vague or indifferent observer。
There were no vicissitudes in the deportment or lapses in the discourse of my friend。 His feelings appeared to preserve an unchangeable tenor； and his thoughts and words always to flow with the same rapidity。 His slumber was profound and his wakeful hours serene。 He was regular and temperate in all his exercises and gratifications。 Hence were derived his clear perceptions and exuberant health。
This treatment of me； like all his other mental and corporal operations； was modelled by one inflexible standard。 Certain scruples and delicacies were incident to my situation。 Of the existence of these he seemed to be unconscious； and yet nothing escaped him inconsistent with a state of absolute equality。
I was naturally inquisitive as to his fortune and the collateral circumstances of his condition。 My notions of politeness hindered me from making direct inquiries。 By indirect means I could gather nothing but that his state was opulent and independent； and that he had two sisters whose situation resembled his own。
Though； in conversation； he appeared to be governed by the utmost candour； no light was let in upon the former transactions of his life。 The purpose of his visit to America I could merely guess to be the gratification of curiosity。
My future pursuits must be supposed chiefly to occupy my attention。 On this head I was destitute of all stedfast views。 Without profession or habits of industry or sources of permanent revenue； the world appeared to me an ocean on which my bark was set afloat； without compass or sail。 The world into which I was about to enter； was untried and unknown； and though I could consent to profit by the guidance I was unwilling to rely on the support of others。
This topic being nearest my heart； I frequently introduced into conversation with my friend； but on this subject he always allowed himself to be led by me； while on all others； he was zealous to point the way。 To every scheme that I proposed he was sure to cause objections。 All the liberal professions were censured as perverting the understanding； by giving scope to the sordid motive of gain； or embuing the mind with erroneous principles。 Skill was slowly obtained； and success； though integrity and independence must be given for it； dubious and instable。 The mechanical trades were equally obnoxious； they were vitious by contributing to the spurious gratifications of the rich and multiplying the objects of luxury； they were destruction to the intellect and vigor of the artizan； they enervated his frame and brutalized his mind。
When I pointed out to him the necessity of some species of labour； he tacitly admitted that necessity； but refused to direct me in the choice of a pursuit； which though not free from defect should yet have the fewest inconveniences。 He dwelt on the fewness of our actual wants； the temptations which attend the possession of wealth； the benefits of seclusion and privacy； and the duty of unfettering our minds from the prejudices which govern the world。
His discourse tended merely to unsettle my views and increase my perplexity。 This effect was so uniform that I at length desisted from all allusions to this theme and endeavoured to divert my own reflections from it。 When our voyage should be finished； and I should actually tread this new stage； I believed that I should be better qualified to judge of the measures to be taken by me。
At length we reached Belfast。 From thence we immediately repaired to Dublin。 I was admitted as a member of his family。 When I expressed my uncertainty as to the place to which it would be proper for me to repair； he gave me a blunt but cordial invitation to his house。 My circumstances allowed me no option and I readily complied。 My attention was for a time engrossed by a diversified succession of new objects。 Their novelty however disappearing； left me at liberty to turn my eyes upon myself and my companion； and here my reflections were supplied with abundant food。
His house was spacious and commodious； and furnished with profusion and elegance。 A suit of apartments was assigned to me； in which I was permitted to reign uncontroled and access was permitted to a well furnished library。 My food was furnished in my own room； prepared in the manner which I had previously directed。 Occasionally Ludloe would request my company to breakfast； when an hour was usually consumed in earnest or sprightly conversation。 At all other times he was invisible； and his apartments； being wholly separate from mine； I had no opportunity of discovering in what way his hours were employed。
He defended this mode of living as being most compatible with liberty。 He delighted to expatiate on the evils of cohabitation。 Men； subjected to the same regimen； compelled to eat and sleep and associate at certain hours； were strangers to all rational independence and liberty。 Society would never be exempt from servitude and misery； till those artificial ties which held human beings together under the same roof were dissolved。 He endeavoured to regulate his own conduct