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ON HIS WAY THROUGH THE WORLD 639
When she eloped with Mr. Firmin, Lord Ringwood vowed he would
give his niece nothing. But he was pleased with the independent
and forgiving spirit exhibited by her son ; and, being a person of
much grim humour, I daresay chuckled inwardly at thinking how
furious the Twysdens would be when they found Philip was the old
Lord's favourite. Then Mr. Philip chose to be insubordinate, and
to excite the wrath of his great-uncle, who desired to have his will
back again. He put the document into his carriage, in the secret
box, as he drove away on that last journey, in the midst of which
death seized him. Had he survived, would he have made another
will, leaving out all mention of Philip ? Who shall say ? My Lord
made and cancelled many wills. This certainly, duly drawn and
witnessed, was the last he ever signed ; and by it Philip i« put in
possession of a sum of money which is sufficient to ensure a provision
for those whom he loves. Kind readers, I know not whether
the fairies be rife now, or banished from this workaday earth, but
Philip's biographer wishes you some of those blessings which never
forsook Philip in his trials : a dear wife and children to love you,
a true friend or two to stand by you, and in health or sickness a
clear conscience and a kindly heart. If you fall upon the way,
may succour reach you. And may you, in your turn, have help
and pity in store for the unfortunate whom you overtake on life's
journey.
Would you care to know what happened to the other personages
of our narrative ? Old Twysden is still babbling and bragging
at clubs, and though aged is not the least venerable. He has
quarrelled with his son for not calling Woolcomb out, when that
unhappy difference arose between the Black Prince and his wife.
He says his family has been treated with cruel injustice by the late
Lord Ringwood, but as soon as Philip had a little fortune left him
he instantly was reconciled to his wife's nephew. There are other
friends of Firmin's who were kind enough to him in his evil days,
but cannot pardon his prosperity. Being in that benevolent mood
which must accompany any leave-taking, we will not name these
ill-wishers of Philip, but wish that all readers of his story may have
like reason to make some of their acquaintances angry.
•Our dear Little Sister would never live with Philip and his
Charlotte, though the latter especially and with all her heart besought
Mrs. Brandon to come to them. That pure and useful and
modest life ended a few years since. She died of a fever caught
from one of her patients. She would not allow Philip or Charlotte
to come near her. She said she was justly punished for being so
proud as to refuse to live with them. All her little store she left
to Philip. He has now in his desk the five guineas which she gave