Nothing Material Happening During Their Infancy, I Shall Pass Over Those
Years In Silence, Only Saying That As Often As
Dorilaus went down to his
estate (which was generally two or three times a year) he always sent
for them,
And expressed a very great satisfaction in finding in their
looks the charge he had given concerning them so well executed: but when
they arrived at an age capable of entertaining him with their innocent
prattle, what before was charity, improved into affection; and he began
to regard them with a tenderness little inferior to paternal; but which
still increased with their increase of years.
Having given them the first rudiments of education in the best schools
those parts afforded, he placed Louisa with a gentlewoman, who
deservedly had the reputation of being an excellent governess of youth,
and brought Horatio in his own chariot up to London, where he put him to
Westminster School, under the care of doctor Busby, and agreed for his
board in a family that lived near it, and had several other young
gentlemen on the same terms.
What more could have been expected from the best of fathers! what more
could children, born to the highest fortunes, have enjoyed! nor was
their happiness like to be fleeting: Dorilaus was a man steady in his
resolutions, had always declared an aversion to marriage, and by
rejecting every overture made him on that score, had made his friends
cease any farther importunities; he had besides (as has already been
observed) no near relations, so that it was the opinion of most people
that he would make the young Horatio heir to the greatest part of his
estate, and give Louisa a portion answerable to her way of bringing up.
What he intended for them, however, is uncertain, he never having
declared his sentiments so far concerning them; and the strange
revolutions happening afterwards in both their fortunes, preventing him
from acting as it is possible he might design.
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