I sometimes make one among the number of visitors to a good old lady, who being past the enjoyment of all the pleasures of life, except those of conversation, loves company and keeps a great deal, as her chearful and entertaining manner of behaviour renders her agreeable even to the youth of both sexes.

It was at her house I first saw mr. Wary, a gentleman of an ancient family, an affluent fortune, and an extreme good character; but has a certain peculiarity of humour which deprives him of some part of that respect he could not fail otherwise of attracting from as many as know him.

Whether it be owing to an over diffidence of himself, or of others, it is hard to determine; that it seems to me that there is a mixture of both in his composition; for he goes not about the most minute and insignificant affair in life, even to the buying a suit of cloaths, without consulting the whole round of his acquaintance, never depending on his own judgment, or on the opinion of any one friend whatsoever; but constantly adhering to this maxim: – that in a multitude of counsellors there is wisdom.

His age at this time does not exceed forty, he has been a widower upwards of twelve years, yet never had the courage to venture on a second marriage, because he could find no woman whom every body approv'd of: – he is the father of one son, a very promising youth, now about thirteen, of whom he is extremely tender, and so very careful of his education that he would never trust him at any public school, and has him instructed at home in every thing he thinks necessary he should learn; but it frequently happens that a great deal of time is lost in providing tutors who seem to him every way qualified for the trust to be reposed in them.