The devil, Sir!--tell me at once, what is this damn'd affair? Upon mysoul, you must tell me immediately.

Behold!--read, Sir--what a task is mine! (_putting your letter into hishands_.)

Never was grief, surprize, and disappointment so strongly painted as inhim.--At first, he stood quite silent; every feature distorted:--thenstarting back some paces, threw his hat over the hedge:--stamp'd on hiswig;--and was stripping himself naked, to fling his clothes into a pondjust by, when I prevented him.

Stop, Sir, I cried: do not alarm the family before they areprepar'd.--Think of the dreadful consequences;--think of the unhappyparents!--Let us consult how to break it to them, without severing theirhearts at one blow.

Zounds, Sir, don't talk to me of breaking it; I shall go mad:--you didnot know her.--0h! she was the most lovely, gentle creature!--What anold blockhead have I been!--Why did I not give her my fortune?--_then_Darcey would have married her;--_then_ she would not have goneabroad;--_then_ we should have sav'd her. 0h, she was a sweet, dearsoul!--What good will my curst estates do me _now?_--You shall havethem, Sir;--any body shall have them--I don't care what becomes of_me_.--Do order my mule, Sir--I say again, do order my mule. I'llnever look at this place more.--0h! my dear, sweet, smiling girl, why wouldyou go to France?

Here I interrupted him.