ARTHUR
25

"No," I replied, "I have no relationship who will have me, or a friend who will protect. If I go to the village it will be a hard job as a day laborer; but even that is better than my current situation. "

This opinion, according to him, must be newly formed. What is upsetting or offensive in my current way of life?

That this man humbled himself to argue with me; to prevent me from my new plan; and to count the benefits he wanted to give, penetrated my heart with gratitude. Inevitably I acknowledge that leisure and literature, abundant and elegant accommodation, are precious for their own sake; that all the pleasures of sensation and the subtleties of intelligence are contained in my current environment, and will be almost deficient in what I am aiming for. I felt temporary remorse for my stupidity, and was determined to adopt a different behavior. I cannot force myself to uncover the true cause of my grief, and therefore allow it to regard it as a kind of yearning for the hometown; for experience; and for that ignorance, which is, when escorted to a new scene, oppressed with a sensation of sadness. He said that this chimera would vanish before the influence of time, and enterprise, and occupation. In the following week he would give me a job; in the meantime he would introduce me to the company, where intelligence and agility would combine to dispel my gloom.

As soon as we parted, my anxiety returned. I argued with them in vain, and finally decided to leave my current situation. When and how this goal will be implemented, I do not know. That will be the theme of the discussion ahead.

The afternoon after arriving, Welbeck proposed to me to accompany me to visit one of his friends. I'd gladly accept the invitation, and go with him to your friend's house, Mr. Wortleys. A party of many gathered, especially of the female gender. I was introduced by Welbeck to the title of a young friend of his . Despite my embarrassment, I did not fail to attend to what passed on this occasion. I commented that the highest respect was given to my colleague, whose entrance into this company seemed to work like magic. His eyes sparkled; his features developed into a friendly calmness; and his mediocre demeanor was replaced with a rushing and overflowing speech.

It was found to be a case. The door was soon closed after his usual solemnity returned. He spoke little, and little was conveyed with a brief and monosyllabic word.

We returned home late at night, and I soon retired to my room, not out of a desire for rest but to enjoy and pursue my own reflection without interruption.

My state of mind is far from happiness. I was placed in a scene that gave fuel to my curiosity. This passion is a source of pleasure, provided that its gratification can be exercised. I had no reason, in my present state, to despair from knowledge; yet suspicion and anxiety struck me. I thought of the procrastination and hard work that had to be paid for by eliminating my ignorance, and only reaping the pain and fear of reflection.

The air is incredibly hot. Raised belts and high ceilings are not enough to hold them. The disturbance of my mind affected my body, and the heat that was pressing on me was aggravated by my anxiety, almost becoming a fever. A few hours had passed painfully, when I remembered that the bath, which was set up in the courtyard below, contained enough antidotes for the influence of heat from the atmosphere.