ld　deter　me　from　this　species　of　imposture；　had　never　been　vivid　or　stable；　and　were　still　more　weakened　by　the　artifices　of　which　I　had　already　been　guilty。　　The　utility　or　harmlessness　of　the　end；　justified；　in　my　eyes；　the　means。
  No　event　had　been　more　unexpected；　by　me；　than　the　bequest　of　my　aunt　to　her　servant。　　The　will；　under　which　the　latter　claimed；　was　dated　prior　to　my　coming　to　the　city。　　I　was　not　surprised；　therefore；　that　it　had　once　been　made；　but　merely　that　it　had　never　been　cancelled　or　superseded　by　a　later　instrument。　　My　wishes　inclined　me　to　suspect　the　existence　of　a　later　will；　but　I　had　conceived　that；　to　ascertain　its　existence；　was　beyond　my　power。
  Now；　however；　a　different　opinion　began　to　be　entertained。　This　woman　like　those　of　her　sex　and　class　was　unlettered　and　superstitious。　　Her　faith　in　spells　and　apparitions；　was　of　the　most　lively　kind。　　Could　not　her　conscience　be　awakened　by　a　voice　from　the　grave！　　Lonely　and　at　midnight；　my　aunt　might　be　introduced；　upbraiding　her　for　her　injustice；　and　commanding　her　to　attone　for　it　by　acknowledging　the　claim　of　the　rightful　proprietor。
  True　it　was；　that　no　subsequent　will　might　exist；　but　this　was　the　fruit　of　mistake；　or　of　negligence。　　She　probably　intended　to　cancel　the　old　one；　but　this　act　might；　by　her　own　weakness；　or　by　the　artifices　of　her　servant；　be　delayed　till　death　had　put　it　out　of　her　power。　　In　either　case　a　mandate　from　the　dead　could　scarcely　fail　of　being　obeyed。
  I　considered　this　woman　as　the　usurper　of　my　property。　　Her　husband　as　well　as　herself；　were　laborious　and　covetous；　their　good　fortune　had　made　no　change　in　their　mode　of　living；　but　they　were　as　frugal　and　as　eager　to　accumulate　as　ever。　　In　their　hands；　money　was　inert　and　sterile；　or　it　served　to　foster　their　vices。　To　take　it　from　them　would；　therefore；　be　a　benefit　both　to　them　and　to　myself；　not　even　an　imaginary　injury　would　be　inflicted。　Restitution；　if　legally　compelled　to　it；　would　be　reluctant　and　painful；　but　if　enjoined　by　Heaven　would　be　voluntary；　and　the　performance　of　a　seeming　duty　would　carry　with　it；　its　own　reward。
  These　reasonings；　aided　by　inclination；　were　sufficient　to　determine　me。　　I　have　no　doubt　but　their　fallacy　would　have　been　detected　in　the　sequel；　and　my　scheme　have　been　productive　of　nothing　but　confusion　and　remorse。　　From　these　consequences；　however；　my　fate　interposed；　as　in　the　former　instance；　to　save　me。
  Having　formed　my　resolution；　many　preliminaries　to　its　execution　were　necessary　to　be　settled。　　These　demanded　deliberation　and　delay；　meanwhile　I　recollected　my　promise　to　Ludlow；　and　paid　him　a　visit。　　I　met　a　frank　and　affectionate　reception。　　It　would　not　be　easy　to　paint　the　delight　which　I　experienced　in　this　man's　society。　　I　was　at　first　oppressed　with　the　sense　of　my　own　inferiority　in　age；　knowledge　and　rank。　　Hence　arose　numberless　reserves　and　incapacitating　diffidences；　but　these　were　speedily　dissipated　by　the　fascinations　of　this　man's　address。　His　superiority　was　only　rendered；　by　time；　more　conspicuous；　but　this　superiority；　by　appearing　never　to　be　present　to　his　own　mind；　ceased　to　be　uneasy　to　me。　　My　questions　required　to　be　frequently　answered；　and　my　mistakes　to　be　rectified；　but　my　keenest　scrutiny；　could　detect　in　his　manner；　neither　arrogance　nor　contempt。　　He　seemed　to　talk　merely　from　the　overflow　of　his　ideas；　or　a　benevolent　desire　of　imparting　information。
  Chapter　IV。
  My　visits　gradually　became　more　frequent。　　Meanwhile　my　wants　increased；　and　the　necessity　of　some　change　in　my　condition　became　daily　more　urgent。　　This　incited　my　reflections　on　the　scheme　which　I　had　formed。　　The　time　and　place　suitable　to　my　design；　were　not　selected　without　much　anxious　inquiry　and　frequent　waverings　of　purpose。　　These　being　at　length　fixed；　the　interval　to　elapse；　before　the　carrying　of　my　design　into　effect；　was　not　without　perturbation　and　suspense。　　These　could　not　be　concealed　from　my　new　friend　and　at　length　prompted　him　to　inquire　into　the　cause。
  It　was　not　possible　to　communicate　the　whole　truth；　but　the　warmth　of　his　manner　inspired　me　with　some　degree　of　ingenuousness。　I　did　not　hide　from　him　my　former　hopes　and　my　present　destitute　condition。　　He　listened　to　my　tale　with　no　expressions　of　sympathy；　and　when　I　had　finished；　abruptly　inquired　whether　I　had　any　objection　to　a　voyage　to　Europe？　　I　answered　in　the　negative。　　He　then　said　that　he　was　preparing　to　depart　in　a　fortnight　and　advised　me　to　make　up　my　mind　to　accompany　him。
  This　unexpected　proposal　gave　me　pleasure　and　surprize；　but　the　want　of　money　occurred　to　me　as　an　insuperable　objection。　　On　this　being　mentioned；　Oho！　said　he；　carelessly；　that　objection　is　easily　removed；　I　will　bear　all　expenses　of　your　passage　myself。
  The　extraordinary　beneficence　of　this　act　as　well　as　the　air　of　uncautiousness　attending　it；　made　me　doubt　the　sincerity　of　his　offer；　and　when　new　declarations　removed　this　doubt；　I　could　not　forbear　expressing　at　once　my　sense　of　his　generosity　and　of　my　own　unworthiness。
  He　replied　that　generosity　had　been　expunged　from　his　catalogue　as　having　no　meaning　or　a　vicious　one。　　It　was　the　scope　of　his　exertions　to　be　just。　　This　was　the　sum　of　human　duty；　and　he　that　fell　short；　ran　beside；　or　outstripped　justice　was　a　criminal。　　What　he　gave　me　was　my　due　or　not　my　due。　　If　it　were　my　due；　I　might　reasonably　demand　it　from　him　and　it　was　wicked　to　withhold　it。　　Merit　on　one　side　or　gratitude　on　the　other；　were　contradictory　and　unintelligible。
  If　I　were　fully　convinced　that　this　benefit　was　not　my　due　and　yet　received　it；　he　should　hold　me　in　contempt。　　The　rectitude　of　my　principles　and　conduct　would　be　the　measure　of　his　approbation；　and　no　benefit　should　he　ever　bestow　which　the　receiver　was　not　entitled　to　claim；　and　which　it　would　not　be　criminal　in　him　to　refuse。
  These　principles　were　not　new　from　the　mouth　of　Ludloe；　but　they　had；　hitherto；　been　regarded　as　the　fruits　of　a　venturous　speculation　in　my　mind。　　I　had　never　traced　them　into　their　practical　consequences；　and　if　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　sit