The Man of Feeling, Henry Mackenzie [the reading strategies book .TXT] 📗

have mentioned. One of these was, the prospect of his succeedingto an old lady, a distant relation, who was known to be possessed ofa very large sum in the stocks: but in this their hopes weredisappointed; for the young man was so untoward in his disposition,that, notwithstanding the instructions he daily received, his visitsrather tended to alienate than gain the good-will of his kinswoman.He sometimes looked grave when the old lady told the jokes of heryouth; he often refused to eat when she pressed him, and was seldomor never provided with sugar-candy or liquorice when she was seizedwith a fit of coughing: nay, he had once the rudeness to fallasleep while she was describing the composition and virtues of herfavourite cholic-water. In short, be accommodated himself so ill toher humour, that she died, and did not leave him a farthing.

The other method pointed out to him was an endeavour to get a leaseof some crown-lands, which lay contiguous to his little paternalestate. This, it was im