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<h2> CHAPTER 13 </h2>
<p>Mr Burchell is found to be an enemy; for he has the confidence to give
disagreeable advice</p>
<p>Our family had now made several attempts to be fine; but some unforeseen
disaster demolished each as soon as projected. I endeavoured to take the
advantage of every disappointment, to improve their good sense in
proportion as they were frustrated in ambition. 'You see, my children,'
cried I, 'how little is to be got by attempts to impose upon the world, in
coping with our betters. Such as are poor and will associate with none but
the rich, are hated by those they avoid, and despised by these they
follow. Unequal combinations are always disadvantageous to the weaker
side: the rich having the pleasure, and the poor the inconveniencies that
result from them. But come, Dick, my boy, and repeat the fable that you
were reading to-day, for the good of the company.'.</p>
<p>'Once upon a time,' cried the child, 'a Giant and a Dwarf were friends,
and kept together. They made a bargain that they would never forsake each
other, but go seek adventures. The first battle they fought was with two
Saracens, and the Dwarf, who was very courageous, dealt one of the
champions a most angry blow. It did the Saracen but very little injury,
who lifting up his sword, fairly struck off the poor Dwarf's arm. He was
now in a woeful plight; but the Giant coming to his assistance, in a short
time left the two Saracens dead on the plain, and the Dwarf cut off the
dead man's head out of spite. They then travelled on to another adventure.
This was against three bloody-minded Satyrs, who were carrying away a
damsel in distress. The Dwarf was not quite so fierce now as before; but
for all that, struck the first blow, which was returned by another, that
knocked out his eye: but the Giant was soon up with them, and had they not
fled, would certainly have killed them every one. They were all very
joyful for this victory, and the damsel who was relieved fell in love with
the Giant, and married him. They now travelled far, and farther than I can
tell, till they met with a company of robbers. The Giant, for the first
time, was foremost now; but the Dwarf was not far behind. The battle was
stout and long. Wherever the Giant came all fell before him; but the Dwarf
had like to have been killed more than once. At last the victory declared
for the two adventurers; but the Dwarf lost his leg. The Dwarf was now
without an arm, a leg, and an eye, while the Giant was without a single
wound. Upon which he cried out to his little companion, My little heroe,
this is glorious sport; let us get one victory more, and then we shall
have honour for ever. No, cries the Dwarf who was by this time grown
wiser, no, I declare off; I'll fight no more; for I find in every battle
that you get all the honour and rewards, but all the blows fall upon me.'</p>
<p>I was going to moralize this fable, when our attention was called off to a
warm dispute between my wife and Mr Burchell, upon my daughters intended
expedition to town. My wife very strenuously insisted upon the advantages
that would result from it. Mr Burchell, on the contrary, dissuaded her
with great ardor, and I stood neuter. His present dissuasions seemed but
the second part of those which were received with so ill a grace in the
morning. The dispute grew high while poor Deborah, instead of reasoning
stronger, talked louder, and at last was obliged to take shelter from a
defeat in clamour. The conclusion of her harangue, however, was highly
displeasing to us all: she knew, she said, of some who had their own
secret reasons for what they advised; but, for her part, she wished such
to stay away from her house for the future.—'Madam,' cried Burchell,
with looks of great composure, which tended to enflame her the more, 'as
for secret reasons, you are right: I have secret reasons, which I forbear
to mention, because you are not able to answer those of which I make no
secret: but I find my visits here are become troublesome; I'll take my
leave therefore now, and perhaps come once more to take a final farewell
when I am quitting the country.' Thus saying, he took up his hat, nor
could the attempts of Sophia, whose looks seemed to upbraid his
precipitancy, prevent his going.</p>
<p>When gone, we all regarded each other for some minutes with confusion. My
wife, who knew herself to be the cause, strove to hide her concern with a
forced smile, and an air of assurance, which I was willing to reprove:
'How, woman,' cried I to her, 'is it thus we treat strangers? Is it thus
we return their kindness? Be assured, my dear, that these were the
harshest words, and to me the most unpleasing that ever escaped your
lips!'—'Why would he provoke me then,' replied she; 'but I know the
motives of his advice perfectly well. He would prevent my girls from going
to town, that he may have the pleasure of my youngest daughter's company
here at home. But whatever happens, she shall chuse better company than
such low-lived fellows as he.'—'Low-lived, my dear, do you call
him,' cried I, 'it is very possible we may mistake this man's character:
for he seems upon some occasions the most finished gentleman I ever knew.—Tell
me, Sophia, my girl, has he ever given you any secret instances of his
attachment?'—'His conversation with me, sir,' replied my daughter,
'has ever been sensible, modest, and pleasing. As to aught else, no,
never. Once, indeed, I remember to have heard him say he never knew a
woman who could find merit in a man that seemed poor.' 'Such, my dear,'
cried I, 'is the common cant of all the unfortunate or idle. But I hope
you have been taught to judge properly of such men, and that it would be
even madness to expect happiness from one who has been so very bad an
oeconomist of his own. Your mother and I have now better prospects for
you. The next winter, which you will probably spend in town, will give you
opportunities of making a more prudent choice.' What Sophia's reflections
were upon this occasion, I can't pretend to determine; but I was not
displeased at the bottom that we were rid of a guest from whom I had much
to fear. Our breach of hospitality went to my conscience a little: but I
quickly silenced that monitor by two or three specious reasons, which
served to satisfy and reconcile me to myself. The pain which conscience
gives the man who has already done wrong, is soon got over. Conscience is
a coward, and those faults it has not strength enough to prevent, it
seldom has justice enough to accuse.</p>
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