OLIVER GOLDSMITH'S LIFE AND TIMES. [BOOK m.
1759. either send him his share, or settle it any other way he shall
^Hi. propose. Then, at last, out comes the awful fact which can
no longer be withheld; and then, as suddenly on the heels
of it, as if ashamed of the brief show of courage he had made,
the wine business again ! " Last night I played Bichard
" ye Third to ye Surprise of Every Body, and as I shall make
" very near ,£300 per annum by it, and" as it is really what I
" doat upon, I am resolv'd to pursue it. I believe I shall
" have Bower's money, which when I have it shall go
" towards my part of the wine you have at Lichfield. Pray
" write me an answer immediately. I am, Dr Brother,
" yrs sincerely D. GAEEIOK. I have a farce (ye Lying Valet)
" coming out at Drury Lane."
Ah, poor David! a brother who has the charge of a
respectable business, who is the eldest of a family, including
two sisters, that have yet to hold up their heads among the
gentlefolks at Lichfield, who has to bear the upbraidings of
an uncle too prosperous in trade to have any toleration for
those who do not prosper, and who 'has never himself done
anything to discredit your father's memory and red coat, is
not propitiated so easily. Peter's reply is now only to be
inferred from the prompt rejoinder it wrung from David,
bearing date the 27th October, and too plainly revealing to
us all that both brother and sisters had suffered from the
dreadful news. He begins by assuring his dear brother that
the uneasiness he has received at his letter is inexpressible.
However, it was a shock he expected, and had guarded him-
self against as well as he could. Nay, the love lie sincerely
bore his brother Peter, together with the prevailing argu-
ments he had made use of, would have been enough to over-
throw his own strongest resolutions, did not necessity (a very
pressing advocate) on his side convince him that he was not