In the morning Harley persuaded Edwards to come with the children to
his house, which was distant but a short day's journey. The boy
walked in his grandfather's hand; and the name of Edwards procured
him a neighbouring farmer's horse, on which a servant mounted, with
the girl on a pillow before him.
With this train Harley returned to the abode of his fathers: and we
cannot but think, that his enjoyment was as great as if he had
arrived from the tour of Europe with a Swiss valet for his
companion, and half a dozen snuff-boxes, with invisible hinges, in
his pocket. But we take our ideas from sounds which folly has
invented; Fashion, Boa ton, and Vertu, are the names of certain
idols, to which we sacrifice the genuine pleasures of the soul: in
this world of semblance, we are contented with personating
happiness; to feel it is an art beyond us.
It was otherwise with Harley; he ran upstairs to his aunt with the
history of his fellow-travellers glowing on his lips. His aunt was
an economist; but she knew the pleasure of doing charitable things,
and withal was fond of her nephew, and solicitous to oblige him.
She received old Edwards therefore with a look of more complacency
than is perhaps natural to maiden ladies of three-score, and was
remarkably attentive to his grandchildren: she roasted apples with
her own hands for their supper, and made up a little bed beside her
own for the girl.
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