The reader is not to suppose that I had kept myself entirely aloof from the family until these disasters had happened. I sought Julia when occasion offered, and, though she refused it, tendered my services and my means whenever they might be bestowed with hope of good. And now, when all was over, and I met her at the door, and she sank upon my bosom, and wept in my embrace, still less than ever was I disposed to show to her mother the natural triumph of a sagacity which had shown itself at the expense of hers. I forgot, in the first glance of my uncle, all his folly and unkindness. He was now a shadow, and the mental wreck was one of the most deplorable, as it was one of the most rapid and complete, that could be imagined. In less than seven months, a strong man--strong in health--strong, as supposed, in intellect--singularly acute in his dealings among tradesmen--regarded by them as one of the most shrewd in the fraternity--vain of his parts, of his family, and of his fortune--solicitous of display, and constant in its indulgence!--that such a man should be stricken down to imbecility and idiotism--a meagre skeleton in form--pale, puny, timid--crouching by the fireplace--grinning with stealthy looks, momently cast around him--and playing--his most constant employment--with the bellows strings that hung beside him, or the little kitten, that, delighted with new consideration, had learned to take her place constantly at his feet! What a wreck! But the moral man had been wrecked before, or this could not have been. It was only because of his guilt--of its exposure rather--that he sunk. In striving to shake off the oppressive burden, he shook off the intellect which had been compelled chiefly to endure it. The sense of shame, the conviction of loss, and, possibly, other causes of conscience which lay yet deeper--for the progeny of crime is most frequently a litter as numerous as a whelp's puppies--helped to crush the mind which was neither strong enough to resist temptation at first, nor to bear exposure at last. I turned away with a tear, which I could not suppress, from the wretched spectacle. But I could have borne with more patience to behold this ruin, than to subdue the rising reproach which I felt as I turned to encounter Mrs. Clifford.