128 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



habitation. I, one day, found him there, plunged 

 in melancholy, and I held a converfation with him, 

 which I will repeat to you, unlefs I tire you by my 

 long digreffions ; they, however, are pardonable in 

 a perfon of my age, and more fo, as they have a re- 

 ference to my laft friendfhips. I will relate it, in 

 form of a dialogue, that you may judge of the ex- 

 cellent natural fenfe of this young man, and it will 

 be eafy for you to difcover who is the fpeaker, by 

 the meaning of his queftions, and by my anfwers. 



He faid to me : 



*' I am very low fpirited. Mademoifelle de la 

 *' Tour has been gone thefe three years and a half; 

 " and, for a year and a half pad, (he has not fent 

 *' us any news of herfelf. She is rich, and I am 

 " poor : (he has certainly forgotten me. My in- 

 « clination prompts me ftrongly to embark for 

 *' France; I will enter into the fervice of the 

 ** King; I will make a fortune, and the grand- 

 ** aunt of Mademoifelle de la Tour will give me 

 *' her niece in marriage, when 1 (hall have become 

 ** a great Lord." 



The Old Man. 

 " My good friend, have you not told me, that 

 •* your birth is ignoble ?" 



Paul. 



