John made no further reply, but left the room sullenly, whistling as he
went.

Left to his own cogitations, Buckhurst fell into a reverie upon the charms
of Caroline Percy, and upon the probable pleasure of dancing with her at
the race-ball; after this, he recurred to the bitter recollection, that he
must decide about his debts, and the church. A bright idea came into his
mind, that he might have recourse to Mr. Percy, and, perhaps, prevail upon
him to persuade his father not to force him to a step which he could not
reconcile either to his conscience or his inclination.--No sooner thought
than done.--He called for his horse and rode as hard as he could to
Percy-hall.--When a boy he had been intimate in the Percy family; but
he had been long absent at school and at the university; they had seen
him only during the vacations, and since his late return to the country.
Though Mr. Percy could not entirely approve of his character, yet he
thought there were many good points about Buckhurst; the frankness and
candour with which he now laid his whole mind and all his affairs open
to him--debts--love--fears--hopes--follies--faults--without reserve or
extenuation, interested Mr. Percy in his favour.--Pitying his distress,
and admiring the motives from which he acted, Mr. Percy said, that though
he had no right to interfere in Mr. Falconer's family affairs, yet that
he could, and would, so far assist Buckhurst, as to lend him the money
for which he was immediately pressed, that he might not be driven by
necessity to go into that profession, which ought to be embraced only from
the highest and purest motives. Buckhurst thanked him with transports
of gratitude for this generous kindness, which was far beyond his
expectations, and which, indeed, had never entered into his hopes. Mr.
Percy seized the moment when the young man's mind was warmed with good
feelings, to endeavour to bring him to serious thoughts and rational
determinations about his future life. He represented, that it was