By a
similar negligence, my brother was so entirely lost, that it was never
known what was become of him.
My father was not only a man of honor but of the strictest
probity, and endued with that magnanimity which frequently produces
the most shining virtues: I may add, he was a good father,
particularly to me whom he tenderly loved; but he likewise loved his
pleasures, and since we had been separated other connections had
weakened his paternal affection. He had married again at Nion, and
though his second wife was too old to expect children, she had
relations; my father was united to another family, surrounded by other
objects, and a variety of cares prevented my returning to his
remembrance. He was in the decline of life and had nothing to
support the inconveniences of old age; my mother's property devolved
to me and my brother, but, during our absence, the interest of it
was enjoyed by my father: I do not mean to infer that this
consideration had an immediate effect on his conduct, but it had an
imperceptible one, and prevented him making use of that exertion to
regain me which he would otherwise have employed; and this, I think,
was the reason that having traced me as far as Annecy, he stopped
short, without proceeding to Chambery, where he was almost certain I
should be found; and likewise accounts why, on visiting him several
times since my flight, he always received me with great kindness,
but never made any efforts to retain me.
This conduct in a father, whose affection and virtue I was so well
convinced of, has given birth to reflections on the regulation of my
own conduct, which have greatly contributed to preserve the
integrity of my heart.
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