SometimebeforeMr。Huntingdon’sdeath，LadyLowboroughelopedwithanothergallanttothecontinent，where，havinglivedawhileinrecklessgaietyanddissipation，theyquarrelledandparted。Shewentdashingonforaseason，butyearscameandmoneywent：shesunk，atlength，indifficultyanddebt，disgraceandmisery；anddiedatlast，asIhaveheard，inpenury，neglect，andutterwretchedness。Butthismightbeonlyareport：shemaybelivingyetforanythingI，oranyofherrelativesorformeracquaintancescantell；fortheyhavealllostsightofherlongyearsago，andwouldasthoroughlyforgetheriftheycould。Herhusband，however，uponthissecondmisdemeanour，immediatelysoughtandobtainedadivorce，and，notlongafter，marriedagain。Itwaswellhedid，forLordLowborough，moroseandmoodyasheseemed，wasnotthemanforabachelor’slife。Nopublicinterests，noambitiousprojects，oractivepursuits，——ortiesoffriendshipevenifhehadhadanyfriends，couldcompensatetohimfortheabsenceofdomesticcomfortsandendearments。Hehadasonandanominaldaughter，itistrue，buttheytoopainfullyremindedhimoftheirmother，andtheunfortunatelittleAnnabellawasasourceofperpetualbitternesstohissoul。Hehadobligedhimselftotreatherwithpaternalkindness：hehadforcedhimselfnottohateher，andeven，perhaps，tofeelsomedegreeofkindlyregardforher，atlast，inreturnforherartlessandunsuspectingattachmenttohimself；butthebitternessofhisself-condemnationforhisinwardfeelingstowardsthatinnocentbeing，hisconstantstrugglestosubduetheevilpromptingsofhisnatureforitwasnotagenerousone，thoughpartlyguessedatbythosewhoknewhim，couldbeknowntoGodandhisownheartalone；——soalsowasthehardnessofhisconflictswiththetemptationtoreturntotheviceofhisyouth，andseekoblivionforpastcalamities，anddeadnesstothepresentmiseryofablightedheart，ajoyless，friendlesslife，andamorbidlydisconsolatemind，byyieldingagaintothatinsidiousfoetohealth，andsense，andvirtue，whichhadsodeplorablyenslavedanddegradedhimbefore。
Thesecondobjectofhischoicewaswidelydifferentfromthefirst。Somewonderedathistaste；someevenridiculedit——butinthistheirfollywasmoreapparentthanhis。Theladywasabouthisownage——i。e。
betweenthirtyandforty——remarkableneitherforbeautynorwealth，norbrilliantaccomplishments；noranyotherthingthatIeverheardof，exceptgenuinegoodsense，unswervingintegrity，activepiety，warmheartedbenevolence，andafundofcheerfulspirits。Thesequalitieshowever，asyoumayreadilyimagine，combinedtorenderheranexcellentmothertothechildren，andaninvaluablewifetohislordship。He，withhisusualself-depreciationorappreciation？thoughtheraworldtoogoodforhim，andwhilehewonderedatthekindnessofProvidenceinconferringsuchagiftuponhim，andevenathertasteinpreferringhimtoothermen，hedidhisbesttoreciprocatethegoodshedidhim，andsofarsucceededthatshewas，andIbelievestillis，oneofthehappiestandfondestwivesinEngland；andallwhoquestionthegoodtasteofeitherpartner，maybethankfuliftheirrespectiveselectionsaffordthemhalfthegenuinesatisfactionintheend，orrepaytheirpreferencewithaffectionhalfaslastingandsincere。
Ifyouareatallinterestedinthefateofthatlowscoundrel，Grimsby，Icanonlytellyouthathewentfrombadtoworse，sinkingfrombathostobathosofviceandvillany，consortingonlywiththeworstmembersofhisclubandthelowestdregsofsociety——happilyfortherestoftheworld——andatlastmethisendinadrunkenbrawlfromthehands，itissaid，ofsomebrotherscoundrelhehadcheatedatplay。
AsforMr。Hattersley，hehadneverwhollyforgottenhisresolutionto`comeoutfromamongthem，’andbehavelikeamanandaChristian，andthelastillnessanddeathofhisoncejollyfriendHuntingdon，sodeeplyandseriouslyimpressedhimwiththeeviloftheirformerpractices，thatheneverneededanotherlessonofthekind。Avoidingthetemptationsofthetown，hecontinuedtopasshislifeinthecountryimmersedintheusualpursuitsofahearty，activecountrygentleman；hisoccupationsbeingthoseoffarming，andbreedinghorsesandcattle，diversifiedwithalittlehuntingandshooting，andenlivenedbytheoccasionalcompanionshipofhisfriendsbetterfriendsthanthoseofhisyouth，andthesocietyofhishappylittlewifenowcheerfulandconfidingasheartcouldwish