THE ROSE OF ASHURST, BY THE AUTHOR OF "EMILIA WYNDHAM," "TWO OLD MEN'S TALES," IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. I. LONDON: HURST AND BLACKETT, PUBLISHERS, 13, GREAT MARLBOROUGH STREET. 1857. [The Right of Translation is Reserved.] 955 M366 ros 1857 v. I THE ROSE OF ASHURST. INTRODUCTION. It certainly is a very pleasant thing to find oneself the possessor of what is called an easy fortune. Yet, as most of the pleasant things of this world have usually something of the nature of a snare connected with them, it would, perhaps, be difficult to mention any one agreeable circumstance with more of hidden snares attending it than this has. So I had found it, at least. My father, an easy-going person, inheritor of a small estate; enjoying, likewise, a moderate reversion from the fortune of my VOL. I. B M765030 mother, and having only one child, namely, myself-had been content to vegetate upon his possessions, without endeavouring in any way to increase or improve them. Satisfied with the persuasion that what had been enough for himself would be enough for his son. His worldly possessions were unfortunately just upon the scale which prevents it being absolutely necessary by some means or other to increase them; though they were far too small to render their management sufficient to engage the serious attention of a conscientious man, or worthily to occupy his time and talents. A few hours' application now and then being all that was required for the government of his small domain-at least, according to the slack and somewhat languid fashion in which my father had all his life been accustomed to discharge, what he had never been taught to look upon, and never had looked upon-in the light of a duty. I had grown up under unfavourable circum stances. The acknowledged heir of a moderate estate, the idea had never been entertained that I could possibly have to get my own living— that wholesome conviction which forms the ordinary stimulus to exertion among boys, was wanting. It is astonishing how early children receive impressions of this nature, either to their profit or injury. There was not an old spoiled servant of our slackly-governed and indulgent household, that had not his part in teaching little master, that he was the heir to the estate, that he was a gentleman born and bred, and as such, had not to toil and moil like the rest of the world. I cannot say that my father altogether countenanced such doctrines. So soon as I approached the years of adolescence, he began seriously to talk to me about my prospects, and to explain the necessity of adopting some plan by which, during his life-time, at least, I might add to the slender allowance he could, without |