"He's a baby about women, and always will be," said Brayder. "He's been once or twice wanting to marry them. Now there's a woman--you've heard of Mrs. Mount? All the world knows her.--If that woman hadn't scandalized."--The young man joined them, and checked the communication. Brayder winked to Adrian, and pitifully indicated the presence of an innocent. "A married man, you know," said Adrian. "Yes, yes!--we won't shock him," Brayder observed. He appeared to study the young man while they talked. Next morning Richard was surprised by a visit from his aunt. Mrs. Doria took a seat by his side and spoke as follows: "My dear nephew. Now you know I have always loved you, and thought of your welfare as if you had been my own child. More than that, I fear. Well, now, you are thinking of returning to--to that place--are you not? Yes. It is as I thought. Very well now, let me speak to you. You are in a much more dangerous position than you imagine. I don't deny your father's affection for you. It would be absurd to deny it. But you are of an age now to appreciate his character. Whatever you may do he will always give you money. That you are sure of; that you know. Very well. But you are one to want more than money: you want his love. Richard, I am convinced you will never be happy, whatever base pleasures you may be led into, if he should withhold his love from you. Now, child, you know you have grievously offended him. I wish not to animadvert on your conduct.--You fancied yourself in love, and so on, and you were rash. The less said of it the better now. But you must now--it is your duty now to do something--to do everything that lies in your power to show him you repent. No interruptions! Listen to me. You must consider him. Austin is not like other men. Austin requires the most delicate management. You must--whether you feel it or no--present an appearance of contrition. I counsel it for the good of all. He is just like a woman, and where his feelings are offended he wants utter subservience. He has you in town, and he does not see you:--now you know that he and I are not in communication: we have likewise our differences:--Well, he has you in town, and he holds aloof:--he is trying you, my dear Richard. No: he is not at Raynham: I do not know where he is. He is trying you, child, and you must be patient. You must convince him that you do not care utterly for your own gratification. If this person--I wish to speak of her with respect, for your sake--well, if she loves you at all--if, I say, she loves you one atom, she will repeat my solicitations for you to stay and patiently wait here till he consents to see you. I tell you candidly, it's your only chance of ever getting him to receive her. That you should know. And now, Richard, I may add that there is something else you should know. You should know that it depends entirely upon your conduct now, whether you are to see your father's heart for ever divided