The failure of my father’s last experiment with Ralph soon became apparent.  Watchful and experienced mothers began to suspect that my brother’s method of flirtation was dangerous, and his style of waltzing improper.  One or two ultra-cautious parents, alarmed by the laxity of his manners and opinions, removed their daughters out of harm’s way, by shortening their visits.  The rest were spared any such necessity.  My father suddenly discovered that Ralph was devoting himself rather too significantly to a young married woman who was staying in the house.  The same day he had a long private interview with my brother.  What passed between them, I know not; but it must have been something serious.  Ralph came out of my father’s private study, very pale and very silent; ordered his luggage to be packed directly; and the next morning departed, with his French valet, and his multifarious French goods and chattels, for the continent.

Another interval passed; and then we had another short visit from him.  He was still unaltered.  My father’s temper suffered under this second disappointment.  He became more fretful and silent; more apt to take offence than had been his wont.  I particularly mention the change thus produced in his disposition, because that change was destined, at no very distant period, to act fatally upon me.

On this last occasion, also, there was another serious disagreement between father and son; and Ralph left England again in much the same way that he had left it before.

Shortly after that second departure, we heard that he had altered his manner of life.  He had contracted, what would be termed in the continental code of morals, a reformatory attachment to a woman older than himself, who was living separated from her husband, when he met with her.  It was this lady’s lofty ambition to be Mentor and mistress, both together!  And she soon proved herself to be well qualified for her courageous undertaking.  To the astonishment of everyone who knew him, Ralph suddenly turned economical; and, soon afterwards, actually resigned his post at the embassy, to be out of the way of temptation!  Since that, he has returned to England; has devoted himself to collecting snuff-boxes and learning the violin; and is now living quietly in the suburbs of London, still under the inspection of the resolute female missionary who first worked his reform.

Whether he will ever become the high-minded, high-principled country gentleman, that my father has always desired to see him, it is useless for me to guess.  On the domains which he is to inherit, I shall never perhaps set foot again:  in the halls where he will one day preside as master, I shall never more be sheltered.  Let me now quit the subject of my elder brother, and turn to a theme which is nearer to my heart; dear to me as the last remembrance left that I can love; precious beyond all treasures in my solitude and my exile from home.