184 DICK ROOK. 



of a lover. He endeavoured to sooth her temper 

 when it was most violent, and to warn her when 

 any man of bad character appeared likely to be- 

 come a favourite with her. In this way he cer- 

 tainly acquired a strong ascendency over her, but 

 in what other way his affection was returned, does 

 not appear. 



During one of Dick's temporary absences from 

 the cottage, Susan went to London to pay a visit 

 to a relation. He heard nothing of her for many 

 months, neither could he procure any information 

 of her from her parents. One day on visiting the 

 cottage, where he frequently went in hopes of 

 finding Susan returned to it, a dirty letter was put 

 into his hands; it was from Susan, telling him 

 that she was going to be married to a man well to 

 do in the world, but that nothing should induce 

 her to do so, unless Dick came up to London to 

 give her away. All his hopes appear to have 

 vanished. The only being he loved, was about to 

 be lost to him for ever. He left the cottage, and 

 wandered about he knew not, nor cared not, where. 

 Susan's letter was unaswered, and was likely to 

 remain so ; for Dick concluded, that not seeing 

 him, she would not continue in the resolution she 

 had expressed : but Susan was not a person likely 

 to be thwarted in any determination she had 

 formed. At the end of about a fortnight, a letter 

 was brought to Dick from her, telling him that 



