tlehopeorcomfortforher.
“Myfather’srelationstookchargeofEdward,astheydidofme,tillIwasnineyearsold.AtthatperioditchancedthattherepresentationofanimportantboroughinourcountyfellvacantMr.Seacombestoodforit.MyuncleCrimsworth,anastutemercantileman,tooktheopportunityofwritingafiercelettertothecandidate,statingthatifheandLordTynedaledidnotconsenttodosomethingtowardsthesupportoftheirsister’sorphanchildren,hewouldexposetheirrelentlessandmalignantconducttowardsthatsister,anddohisbesttoturnthecircumstancesagainstMr.Seacombe’selection.ThatgentlemanandLordT.knewwellenoughthattheCrimsworthswereanunscrupulousanddeterminedracetheyknewalsothattheyhadinfluenceintheboroughofX——and,makingavirtueofnecessity,theyconsentedtodefraytheexpensesofmyeducation.IwassenttoEton,whereIremainedtenyears,duringwhichspaceoftimeEdwardandInevermet.He,whenhegrewup,enteredintotrade,andpursuedhiscallingwithsuchdiligence,ability,andsuccess,thatnow,inhisthirtiethyear,hewasfastmakingafortune.OfthisIwasapprisedbytheoccasionalshortlettersIreceivedfromhim,somethreeorfourtimesayearwhichsaidlettersneverconcludedwithoutsomeexpressionofdeterminedenmityagainstthehouseofSeacombe,andsomereproachtomeforliving,ashesaid,onthebountyofthathouse.Atfirst,whilestillinboyhood,Icouldnotunderstandwhy,asIhadnoparents,IshouldnotbeindebtedtomyunclesTynedaleandSeacombeformyeducationbutasIgrewup,andheardbydegreesoftheperseveringhostility,thehatredtilldeathevincedbythemagainstmyfather—ofthesufferingsofmymother—ofallthewrongs,inshort,ofourhouse—thendidIconceiveshameofthedependenceinwhichIlived,andformaresolutionnomoretotakebreadfromhandswhichhadrefusedtoministertothenecessitiesofmydyingmother.ItwasbythesefeelingsIwasinfluencedwhenIrefusedtheRectoryofSeacombe,andtheunionwithoneofmypatriciancousins.
“Anirreparablebreachthusbeingeffectedbetweenmyunclesandmyself,IwrotetoEdwardtoldhim