"'I was in a delicate state of health at the time, and my nerves could
not stand it. I said good-bye to the town, and making my way back into
the country, put up with a county family.
"'They were great swells, but I should have preferred them had they been
more homely. I am of an affectionate disposition, and I like every one
about me to love me. They were good enough to me in their distant way,
but they did not take much notice of me, and I soon got tired of
lavishing attentions on people that neither valued nor responded to them.
"'From these people I went to a retired potato merchant. It was a social
descent, but a rise so far as comfort and appreciation were concerned.
They appeared to be an exceedingly nice family, and to be extremely fond
of me. I say they "appeared" to be these things, because the sequel
proved that they were neither. Six months after I had come to them they
went away and left me. They never asked me to accompany them. They made
no arrangements for me to stay behind. They evidently did not care what
became of me. Such egotistical indifference to the claims of friendship
I had never before met with. It shook my faith--never too robust--in
human nature. I determined that, in future, no one should have the
opportunity of disappointing my trust in them.
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