ABSTRACT
The morning was pretty far advanced before either of them awoke; the waiter came to summon them to breakfast, and to inform them that the wind was fair. e captain of the packet had just called at the house, to acquaint the passengers he should sail in an hour. When they had nished their last meal together, Evans took Ned by the hand, and, looking on him with inexpressible tenderness – ‘I had something to reveal to you, my dear boy!’ said he, ‘which may some time or other be of consequence to you, though at present it can be of none. I will therefore suppress it now. But if ever we live to meet again, I will acquaint you with it; and in case it shall please God to take me from you, I shall take care to have it told you. – I know not what fortune may attend you – you may rise to honour and to fame; or/ you may sink under misfortune, and walk in the valley of death. In either case, my darling child! here is your consolation – here is a friend that will never forsake you; that will teach you to use prosperity with moderation, and to support adversity without being overwhelmed. Take it, my child – use it – keep it – consult it upon all occasions, and trust your father when he tells you, it has been his cordial through many a ictions.’ He then put into his hand a pocket edition of the Bible. ‘I accept your present, my father!’ said Ned, ‘with thankfulness; and in this case I will make no scruple of passing you my most sacred word of honour, that I will obey your injunctions. And now too, my father, I must tell you in my turn, that I also had a secret to reveal which yet at present I am obliged to suppress. Yet I will acquaint you with it by letter; and I make it my last request to you, that you will comply with my desire.’ ‘I know nothing, my child,’ said Evans, ‘that you can demand of me,/ that I shall ever wish to refuse.’ – e captain of the packet now came to summon Ned on board, which put a stop to all further explanation: what Evans had to reveal must remain in his own bosom till he chooses to tell it – at this time it could have been of no consequence to Edward, unless perhaps to a ict him, though indeed without reason. What Ned had to reveal to his father, was certainly his a air with Molly Price: but the piety of that ingenuous youth could not bear the presence of his father under the consciousness of guilt.
