“I knew not,” replied Osborne, “that it was so; I myself have not observed what you speak of.”

“Your manner, indeed, is much changed,” said his friend; “you appear to me, and I dare say to others, very like a man whose mind is engaged upon the consideration of some subject that is deeply painful to him, and of which he knows not how to dispose.  If it be so, my dear Osborne, command my advice, my sympathy, my friendship.”

“I assure you, my dear friend, I was perfectly unconscious of this.  But that I have for some time past been thinking—­more seriously than usual of the position in society which I ought to select, I grant you.  You are pleased to flatter me with the possession of talents that you say might enable any man to reach a commanding station in public life.  Now, for what purpose are talents given? or am I justified in sinking away into obscurity when I might create my own fortune, perhaps my own rank, by rendering some of the noblest services to my country.  That wish to leave behind one a name that cannot die, is indeed a splendid ambition!”

“I thought,” replied the other, “that you had already embraced views of a different character, entered into by your father to promote your-own happiness.”

Osborne started, blushed, and for more than half a minute returned no answer.  “True,” said he at last, “true, I had forgotten that.”

His tutor immediately perceived that an ambition not unnatural, indeed, to a young man possessing such fine talents, had strongly seized upon his heart, and knowing as he did his attachment to Jane, he would have advised his immediate return home, had it not been already determined on, in consequence of medical advice, that he himself should visit Bath for the benefit of his health, and his pupil could by no arguments be dissuaded from accompanying him.

This brief view of Osborne’s intentions, at the close of the period agreed on for his return, was necessary to explain an observation made by Agnes in the last dialogue which we have given between herself and her younger sister.  We allude to the complaint which she playfully charged Jane with having made to her brother concerning the length of time which had elapsed since she last heard from her lover.  The truth is, that with the exception of Jane herself, both families were even then deeply troubled in consequence of a letter directed by Charles’s tutor to Mr. Osborne.  That letter was the last which the amiable gentleman ever wrote, for he had not been in Bath above a week when he sank suddenly under a disease of the heart, to which he had for some years been subject.  His death, which distressed young Osborne very much, enabled him, however, to plead the necessity of attending to his friend’s obsequies, in reply to his father’s call on him to return to his family.  The next letter stated that he would not lose a moment in complying with his wishes, as no motive existed to detain him