You are very right to acknowledge your fault; and after such an acknowledgement, only the ill-natured will remember it to your disadvantage. And for the service you may have an opportunity of recompensing the boy, and do not forget to do it, you are indebted to him for life. He has been the instrument, in the hands of providence, of your preservation; and, perhaps, God allowed him to save you, to impress on your mind a useful lesson, to root out your foolish pride. What would a young gentleman have done on such an occasion? He would, most probably, have called out for help; but this hardy boy, more accustomed to difficulties, and having less fear, plunged in without thinking of the danger he ran into. Let us, then, love all our fellow-creatures; those in the lowest condition may be as useful, nay, more so, than those who fill the highest station. One common nature equally ties us to both; are we not all children of the same father? I had tears in my eyes, dear mother, when I heard Charles deliver these sentiments; his own shone; he is a good creature. I recollected I have often seen labouring men very compassionate. God takes care of the meanest insect, Dr. Bartlett says. Farewell. I forgot to tell you that we are to go to-morrow to dine with a sister of Sir Charles’s, whose house is some miles distant from hence; and as we are to rise earlier than usual, I am going to bed, that I may not keep them a moment in the morning waiting for me. Edward cannot go with us, he is very sorry, and I pity him, he will be so dull alone; but I will lend him a book full of stories. Once more farewell. WILLIAM. LETTER XI. WILLIAM _to his_ MOTHER. We have been very happy at Lord L——’s; I wish you had seen how well my friend Charles behaves himself in company. Not like young Dulis, I assure you. He has so much affectation and formality: he does nothing but bow, and make compliments, with a half-ashamed face, as if he had done wrong, and was afraid to look the person he spoke to in the face. Charles, on the contrary, is polite with a noble freedom; he walks with ease and grace; he listens with attention, and speaks little; but when the discourse is directed to him, he returns a modest answer. I will give you an instance of his attention. We were in the garden with the whole party: one of the young ladies had left her hat in the house and complained of the heat of the sun; Charles heard her, and ran immediately for it. Then, with his usual mirth, he asked permission to put it on the lady’s head. Oh, could I be like him how happy I should be! I will try to be as attentive and complaisant. Most people only come into company to eat and drink. I know, for you have told me, that children should not converse much; but they must not appear tired and stupidly dumb. Is it not true, dear mother?