ABSTRACT
Such was the character of my acquaintance with young Lisle: but, during the period I have been attempting to describe, my mind did not fail to be greatly disturbed with the recollection of the scenes through which I had lately passed. To a careless observer they may appear to have contained nothing very extraordinary; but it was not so to me. The events that had occurred to me in Wiltshire, constituted what I may call my first entrance into the scene of the real world. When they were over, they were not to me as things that were passed. Waking and sleeping, by day and by night, I actually saw them – the courtesy and noble nature of Penruddock; / the extent of my disappointment; the conduct and language of Clifford, whether intended to soothe or exasperate I could not determine. In my ordinary frame of mind, I decidedly imputed to him the latter intention; though I could not always prevent the intrusion of a fairer and more candid interpretation.
