Volume Two--Chapter Eighteen.

Volume Two--Chapter Eighteen.Isabel. Any where to avoid matrimony: the thought of a husband is terrible to me.Inis. But if you might choose for yourself, I fancy matrimony would be no such frightful thing to you.The Wonder.The Boadicea, with the Indiamen, proceeded on to their destination, Captain Carrington taking every opportunity which light winds and smooth water afforded him, of paying his respects to the ladies on board of the Bombay Castle, or of inviting them on board of the frigate. The fact was, that he had fallen most desperately in love with Isabel Revel, and paid her the most marked attention; but, although a pleasant, light-hearted companion, and a young man of good family and prospects, Isabel Revel had not fallen in love with him: she liked his company, but nothing more.In a month the squadron had arrived at the island of St. Helena, to which Captain Carrington had been ordered to convey them: his directions were then to cruise in a certain latitude, and ultimately to proceed on to the East Indies, if he did not fall in with the vessels he expected. It was, therefore, but parting to meet again; but during the short time that they refitted and completed their water at St. Helena, Captain Carrington proposed, and was politely refused by Isabel Revel. Impatient as a boy who has been denied his plaything, he ordered his stores immediately on board, and the next day quitted the island. It may appear strange that a young lady, obviously sent out on speculation, should have refused so advantageous an offer; for the speculation commences with the voyage. Some ladies are selected at Madeira. Since the Cape has been in our possession, several have been induced to stay in that colony; and very often ships arrive with only therefuseof their cargo; for the intended market in the East. But Isabel Revel had consented to embark on the score of filial duty, not to obtain a husband unless she liked the gentleman who proposed; and Captain Carrington did not happen to come up to her fanciful ideas of the person to be chosen for life. Captain Carrington did not impart the intelligence of his ill success to any one but Newton, who was employed to carry his farewell message. His secret was faithfully kept by both. Isabel Revel was not one of those young ladies who would make use of such an unworthy advantage to heighten her consequence in the eyes of others. But there was another reason, not exactly known to Isabel herself at the time, which prevented her from listening to the proposals of Captain Carrington. Had she questioned her own heart, she would have discovered that she was prepossessed in favour of one, who as unconsciously had become attached to her. He knew his own feelings, but had checked them in the bud, aware that he had nothing to offer but himself. This person was Newton Forster. His intimacy with Captain Carrington, the attention shown him by Captain Drawlock, (who trusted him to work the chronometers!!) his own excellent character and handsome person, had raised him to more importance than his situation as a junior officer would have warranted; and his behaviour was such as to have secured him the good-will of every one on board of the ship. Newton’s unassuming frank manner, added to a large stock of general information, occasioned his society to be courted, even by those who would otherwise have been inclined to keep at a distance one in his subordinate rank.When they arrived at St. Helena, the first-mate, for a wonder, no longer made any difficulty of going on shore for an hour or two, if he knew that Newton would be the commanding officer during his absence; nay, so high did he stand in the opinion of his captain, that nut only was he permitted to take charge of the chronometers, but, if called away for a time below, Captain Drawlock would hand over to Newton’s charge any one of the unmarriedresponsibilities, who might happen to be leaning on his arm.The Indiamen being now left to protect themselves, the senior officer, Commodore Bottlecock, issued most elaborate memoranda, as to the order of sailing, exercise of the men at the great guns and small arms, and every other point which could tend to their security by due preparation. Nevertheless, the ladies continued to appear on deck. Mrs Ferguson sat in her majesty; the young ladies tittered, and were reprimanded; the young gentlemen were facetious, and were rebuked; the old colonel talked of his adventure at Madeira, and compared every thing to the spent ball at the battle of —. Dr Plausible had become a most assiduous attendant upon Miss Tavistock, ever since he had satisfactorily ascertained that she had property of her own; every body had become intimate; every one was becoming tired, when the bearings and distance at noon placed them about two hundred miles from Point de Galle, the southernmost extremity of Ceylon. The wind was fresh and fair, and they congratulated each other upon a speedy termination to their tedious voyage.Dinner was announced by the old tune of “Oh! the roast beef of old England;” and during a long voyage the announcement of dinner is a very great relief every way. As had been the invariable rule throughout the whole of the voyage, Miss Charlotte and Miss Laura Revel were placed on the one side of Captain Drawlock, Miss Tavistock and Isabel Revel on the other. They were flanked on the other side by Mrs and Mr Ferguson, who thus separated them from any undue collision with the gentlemen passengers or officers of the ship. The colonel was placed next to Mrs Ferguson, the young writer next to her husband; then the two cadets, supported by the doctor and purser, the remainder of the table being filled up with the officers of the ship, with the first-mate at the foot. Such was the order of Captain Drawlock’s dinner—sailing; as strictly adhered to as the memoranda of Commodore Bottlecock: the only communication permitted with the young ladies under his charge (unless married men) being to “request the honour of drinking a glass of wine with them.”All this may appear very absurd; but a little reflection will convince the reader to the contrary. There is a serious responsibility on a captain of an Indiaman, who takes charge of perhaps a dozen young women, who are to be cooped up for months in the same ship with as many young men. Love, powerful every where, has on the waters even more potent sway, hereditary I presume, from his mother’s nativity. Idleness is the friend of love; and passengers have little or nothing to do to while away the tedium of a voyage. In another point, he has great advantage, from the limited number of the fair sex. In a ball or in general society, a man may see hundreds of women, admire many, yet fall in love with none. Numbers increase the difficulty of choice, and he remains delighted, but not enslaved. But on board of a ship, the continued presence of one whom he admires by comparison out of the few,—one who, perhaps, if on shore, would in a short time be eclipsed by another, but who here shines without competition,—gives her an advantage which, assisted by idleness and opportunity, magnifies her attractions, and sharpens the arrow of all-conquering Love. Captain Drawlock perhaps knew this from experience; he knew also that the friends of one party, if not of both, might be displeased by any contract formed when under his surveillance, and that his character and the character of his ship (for ships now-a-days have characters, and very much depend upon them for their well doing) might suffer in consequence. Strict as he might therefore appear, he was only doing his duty.Grace being requested from Mr Ferguson, he indulged the company with one quite as long as usual; rather too long considering that the ship was very unsteady, and the ladies had to cling to the table for support. But Mr Ferguson was not a sailor, or he would have known that it is the custom to reduce the grace in proportion with the canvass. When the royals are set, we submit to a homily; under double-reefed topsails, a blessing; but under storm stay-sails, an ejaculation is considered as orthodox.“Mrs Ferguson, will you permit me to send you a little mulligatawney? said Captain Drawlock. If you prefer it, there is sheep’s-head broth at the other end of the table.”“Then I will take a little of the broth, if you please, Captain Drawlock.”“Mr Mathews, Mrs Ferguson will take some broth. I am sorry, Mrs Ferguson, that our table is so ill-supplied; but a long voyage and bad weather has been very fatal to our hen-coops.”“Indeed, Captain Drawlock, you need not apologise.” Nor was there any occasion, for the table was loaded.“Perhaps Miss Laura Revel will permit me to send her a slice of this mutton?” said the obsequious colonel.“No, I thank you; I have eaten nothing but mutton lately. I think I shall be a sheep myself soon,” added the young lady, tittering.“That would be very much against your inclination, I should think, Miss Laura,” observed Mrs Ferguson, tartly.“La! why so? how do you know, Mrs Ferguson?”“Because a sheep never changes its name until after it is dead. I shrewdly suspect you would like to change yours before.”—(This was a hard hit.)“As you have yours, Mrs Ferguson,” quietly answered Isabel, in support of her sister.“Very fair on both sides,” said the colonel, bowing to the ladies, who sat together. “Pray Miss Laura, don’t talk of being a sheep, we are all ready to devour you as it is.”“La! you don’t say so?” replied the young lady, much pleased.“Colonel Ellice,” interrupted Captain Drawlock, with a serious air, “several of the company will thank you to carve that joint, when you have finished paying your compliments. Miss Tavistock, the honour of a glass of wine. We have not had the pleasure of your company on deck to-day.”“No, Captain Drawlock. I did intend to come, but my health is in such a delicate state, that by the advice of Dr Plausible I remained below.”“Miss Tavistock will you allow me to send you some mutton?”“If you please, colonel; a very small slice.”“Mr Forster, what have you in that dish before you?”“A chicken, Captain Drawlock.”“Miss Isabel Revel, will you take some chicken?”“No, I thank you, Captain Drawlock,” replied Isabel.“Did you say yes or no?” inquired Newton, who had caught her eye.“I’ll change my mind,” said Isabel, smiling.Now, I know it for a fact, although I shall not give up my authority, that Isabel Revel never wanted any chicken until she perceiveth that Newton was to help her. So, if Love occasionally takes away the appetite, let us do him justice—he sometimes creates one.“Miss Tavistock, allow me to send you a little of this Turkey,” said Dr Plausible; “it is easy of digestion.”“If you please, doctor,” replied Miss Tavistock, cramming the last mouthful of mutton into her mouth, and sending away her plate to be changed.“Will you not take a little ham with it, Miss Tavistock?” said Captain Drawlock.“If you please, sir.”“The honour of a glass of wine, Miss Tavistock,” said the colonel.“With pleasure, sir.”“Miss Charlotte Revel, you have really eaten nothing,” said Captain Drawlock.“That proves you have not paid me the least attention,” replied the young lady. “Had you honoured me with a single glance during dinner, you could not but have observed that I have been dining very heartily.”“I really am quite shocked, Miss Charlotte, and bow to your reproof. Will you take a glass of wine with me in reconciliation?”“I consider a glass of Madeira a very poor bribe, sir.”“Well, then, Miss Charlotte, it shall be champagne,” replied Captain Drawlock, in his gallantry. “Steward, champagne.” A fortunate hit for the company, as champagne was in general only produced upon what sailors call ‘clean shirt days,’ viz. Sundays and Thursdays.“We are highly indebted to Miss Revel,” observed the colonel, bowing to her; “and I think we ought to drink her health in a bumper.”Agreed to,nem con.Champagne, thou darling of my heart! To stupefy oneself with other wines, is brutal; but to raise oneself to the seventh heaven with thee, is quite ethereal. The soul appears to spurn the body, and take a transient flight without its dull associate—the—the—broke down, by Jupiter! All I meant to say was, that champagne is very prettytipple; and so thought the dinner party, who were proportionally enlivened.“Is this orthodox, Mr Ferguson?” inquired the colonel, holding up his glass.“So far orthodox, that it is very good; and what is orthodox is good,” replied the divine, with good-humour.“The Asia has made the signal for ‘a strange sail—suspicious,’” said the second-mate to Captain Drawlock, putting his head into the cabin.“Very well, Mr Jones, keep a glass upon the commodore.”“Mrs Ferguson, will you take some of this tart? Damascene, I believe,” said the first-mate.“If you please, Mr Mathews.—Did not Mr Jones say suspicious?—What does that imply?”“Imply, madam; why that he don’t like the cut of her jib!”“And pray what does that mean?”“Mean, madam; why, that for all he knows to the contrary, she may be a French frigate.”“A French frigate! a French frigate! O dear! O dear!” cried two or three ladies at a breath.“Mr Mathews,” said Captain Drawlock, “I am really surprised at your indiscretion. You have alarmed the ladies. A suspicious sail, Mrs Ferguson, merely implies—in fact, that they do not know what she is.”“Is thatallit means?” replied Mrs Ferguson, with an incredulous look.“Nothing more, madam; nothing more, I assure you.”“Commodore has made a signal that strange vessel is a man-of-war bearing down,” said the second-mate, again entering the cabin.“Very well, Mr Jones,” said Captain Drawlock, with assumed indifference, but at the same time fidgeting on his chair.The first-mate and Newton immediately quitted the cabin.“Miss Tavistock, will you take a little of this pudding?”“If you please, sir, a very little.”“A man-of-war! I’ll go and have a look at her,” said the colonel; who rose up, bowed to the ladies, and left the cuddy.“Most probably one of our cruisers,” observed Captain Drawlock.“The commodore has made the signal to prepare for action, sir,” said the second-mate.“Very well, Mr Jones,” said Captain Drawlock, who could now restrain himself no longer. “You must excuse me, ladies, for a moment or two, but our commodore is soveryprudent a man, and I am under his orders. In a short time I hope to return to the pleasure of your society.”Captain Drawlock’s departure was followed by that of all the male party, with the exception of Doctor Plausible and Mr Ferguson, both of whom however were anxious to go upon deck, and ascertain how matters stood.“Mr Ferguson, where are you going?” said his wife, sharply. “Pray, sir, do us the favour to remain. Your profession, if I mistake not, is one of peace.”“Oh! Doctor Plausible, I feel very unwell,” cried Miss Tavistock.“I will stay with you, my dear madam,” replied the doctor.A gun from the commodore’s ship, which was close to windward of them, burst upon their ears, rattling the cabin windows, and making every wine-glass on the table to dance with the concussion.“Oh! oh! oh!” screamed Miss Tavistock, throwing herself back in her chair, and expanding her arms and fingers.Doctor Plausible flew to the lady’s assistance.“The extreme fineness of her organic structure—a little water, if you please, Miss Charlotte Revel.”A tumbler of water was poured out, and Doctor Plausible, dipping the tip of his fore-finger into it, passed it lightly over the lady’s brows. “She will be better directly.”But the lady did not think proper tocome toso soon as the doctor prophesied, and Mrs Ferguson, snatching up the tumbler, dashed the contents with violence in Miss Tavistock’s face; at which Miss Tavistock not only revived, but jumped up from her chair, blowing and spluttering.“Are you better now, Miss Tavistock?” said Mrs Ferguson, soothingly, at the same time glancing her eyes at the other ladies, who could not restrain their mirth.“Oh! Doctor Plausible, that shock has so affected my nerves, I feel that I shall faint again, I do indeed—I’m going—”“Lean upon me, Miss Tavistock, and permit me to conduct you to your cabin,” replied the doctor; “the extreme delicacy of your constitution,” continued he whispering as they left the cuddy, “is not equal to the boisterous remedies of Mrs Ferguson.”As they went out, Newton Forster came in.“You must not be alarmed, ladies, when I state that I am commissioned by Captain Drawlock to inform you that the stranger’s manoeuvres are so doubtful, that we think she is an enemy. He has desired me to request you will accept my convoy to the lower-deck, where you will be safe from accident, in the event of our coming to an engagement. Mr Ferguson, the captain intrusts the ladies to your charge, and requests that you will not leave them upon any consideration. Now, Mrs Ferguson, will you permit me to escort you to a place of security?”At this intelligence Laura Revel stared, Charlotte burst into tears, and Isabel turned pale. Mrs Ferguson took the arm of Newton without saying a word, when the other was offered and accepted by Isabel. Mr Ferguson, with the two other sisters, brought up the rear. The ladies had to pass the quarter-deck, and when they saw the preparations, the guns cast loose, the shot lying on the deck, and all the various apparatus for destruction, their fears increased. When they had been conducted to their place of safety, Newton was about to return on deck, when he was seized by Miss Charlotte and Laura Revel, who entreated him not to leave them.“Do stay with us, Mr Forster; pray don’t go,” cried they both.“I must indeed, ladies; you are perfectly safe here.”“For God’s sake, don’t you go away, Mr Forster!” cried Laura, falling on her knees. “I shall die of fright.—You shan’t go!” screamed Laura, as the two sisters clung on to the skirts of his jacket, and effectually prevented his escape, unless, like the patriarch, he had left his garment behind.Newton cast an appealing glance at Isabel, who immediately interfered,—“Charlotte, for shame! you are preventing Mr Forster from going to his duty. My dear Laura, do not be so foolish; Mr Forster can be of no service to us: but he will be on deck. Let go, Laura.”Newton was released. “I am much obliged to you, Miss Isabel,” said Newton, with his foot on the ladder; “but I have no time now to express my thanks—not to be on deck—”“I know it, Mr Forster: go up, I beseech you, do not wait a moment;” and Newton sprung up the ladder; but not before he had exchanged with Isabel a glance, which, had he been deficient in courage, would have nerved him for the approaching combat. We must leave the ladies with Mr Ferguson (who had no pleasant office), while we follow Newton on deck. The stranger had borne down with studding-sails, until within three miles of the India-men, when she rounded to. She then kept away a little, to close nearer, evidently examining the force opposed to her. The Indiamen had formed the line of battle in close order, the private signal between English men-of-war and East India ships flying at their mast-heads.“Extremely strange, that she does not answer the private signal,” said the colonel to the second-mate.“Not at all, if she don’t know how.”“You are convinced, then, that she is a French frigate?”“No, not positive; but I’ll bet you ten to one she is:— bet off, if either of us are killed, of course!”“Thanky; I never bet,” answered the colonel, turning away.“What do you think of her, Mr Mathews?” said Captain Drawlock to the first-mate, who had his eye on the ship.“She is English built and English rigged, sir, that I’ll swear; look at her lower yard-arms, the squaring of her topsails. She may be French now, but the oak in her timbers grew in old England.”“I agree with you,” said Newton: look at the rake of her stern; she’s English all over.“Then why don’t she answer the private signal?” said Captain Drawlock.“She’s right in the wind’s eye of us, sir, and our flags are blowing end on from her.”“There goes up her bunting, sir,” cried the first-mate.“English, as I said. The commodore is answering, sir. Up with the ensign there abaft. All’s right, tell the ladies.”“I will; I’ll go and inform them,” said the colonel; who immediately descended to impart the joyful intelligence.The frigate bore down, and hove to. The commodore of the India squadron went on board, when he found that she was cruising for some large Dutch store-ships and vessels armeden flute, which were supposed to have sailed from Java. In a quarter of an hour, she again made sail, and parted company, leaving the Indiamen to secure their guns, and pursue their course.There are two parties, whose proceedings we had overlooked; we refer to Miss Tavistock and Dr Plausible. The latter handed the lady to her cabin, eased her down upon her couch, and, taking her hand gently, retained it in his own, while with his other he continued to watch her pulse.“Do not alarm yourself, my dear Miss Tavistock; your sensibility is immense. I will not leave you. I cannot think what could have induced you to trust yourself on such a voyage of danger and excitement.”“Oh! Dr Plausible, where my affections are centred, there is nothing, weak creature that I am, but my soul would carry me through:— indeed I am all soul.—I have a dear friend in India.”“He is most happy,” observed the doctor, with a sigh.“He, Dr Plausible! you quite shock me!—Do you imagine for a moment that I would go out to follow any gentleman? No, indeed, I am not going out on speculation, as some young ladies:— I have enough of my own, thank God! I keep my carriage and corresponding establishment, I assure you.”—(The very thing that Dr Plausible required.)“Indeed! my dear Miss Tavistock, is it then really a female friend?”“Yes! the friend of my childhood. I have ventured this tedious, dangerous voyage, once more to fold her in my arms.”“Disinterested affection! a heart like yours, Miss, were indeed a treasure to be won. What a happy man would your husband be!”“Husband! Oh, Dr Plausible don’t mention it: I feel convinced,—positively convinced, that my constitution is not strong enough to bear matrimony.”The doctor’s answer was too prolix for insertion; it was a curious compound dissertation upon love and physic, united. There was devoted attention, extreme gentle treatment, study of pathology, advantage of medical attendance always at hand, careful nursing, extreme solicitude, fragility of constitution restored, propriety of enlarging the circle of her innocent affections, ending at last in devoted love, and a proposal—to share her carriage and establishment.Miss Tavistock assumed another faint—the shock was so great; but the doctor knelt by her, and kissed her hand, with well-affected rapture. At last, she murmured out a low assent, and fell back, as if exhausted with the effort. The doctor removed his lips from her hand to her mouth, to seal the contract; and, as she yielded to his wishes, almost regretted that he had not adhered to his previous less assuming gallantry.

Isabel. Any where to avoid matrimony: the thought of a husband is terrible to me.Inis. But if you might choose for yourself, I fancy matrimony would be no such frightful thing to you.The Wonder.

Isabel. Any where to avoid matrimony: the thought of a husband is terrible to me.

Inis. But if you might choose for yourself, I fancy matrimony would be no such frightful thing to you.

The Wonder.

The Boadicea, with the Indiamen, proceeded on to their destination, Captain Carrington taking every opportunity which light winds and smooth water afforded him, of paying his respects to the ladies on board of the Bombay Castle, or of inviting them on board of the frigate. The fact was, that he had fallen most desperately in love with Isabel Revel, and paid her the most marked attention; but, although a pleasant, light-hearted companion, and a young man of good family and prospects, Isabel Revel had not fallen in love with him: she liked his company, but nothing more.

In a month the squadron had arrived at the island of St. Helena, to which Captain Carrington had been ordered to convey them: his directions were then to cruise in a certain latitude, and ultimately to proceed on to the East Indies, if he did not fall in with the vessels he expected. It was, therefore, but parting to meet again; but during the short time that they refitted and completed their water at St. Helena, Captain Carrington proposed, and was politely refused by Isabel Revel. Impatient as a boy who has been denied his plaything, he ordered his stores immediately on board, and the next day quitted the island. It may appear strange that a young lady, obviously sent out on speculation, should have refused so advantageous an offer; for the speculation commences with the voyage. Some ladies are selected at Madeira. Since the Cape has been in our possession, several have been induced to stay in that colony; and very often ships arrive with only therefuseof their cargo; for the intended market in the East. But Isabel Revel had consented to embark on the score of filial duty, not to obtain a husband unless she liked the gentleman who proposed; and Captain Carrington did not happen to come up to her fanciful ideas of the person to be chosen for life. Captain Carrington did not impart the intelligence of his ill success to any one but Newton, who was employed to carry his farewell message. His secret was faithfully kept by both. Isabel Revel was not one of those young ladies who would make use of such an unworthy advantage to heighten her consequence in the eyes of others. But there was another reason, not exactly known to Isabel herself at the time, which prevented her from listening to the proposals of Captain Carrington. Had she questioned her own heart, she would have discovered that she was prepossessed in favour of one, who as unconsciously had become attached to her. He knew his own feelings, but had checked them in the bud, aware that he had nothing to offer but himself. This person was Newton Forster. His intimacy with Captain Carrington, the attention shown him by Captain Drawlock, (who trusted him to work the chronometers!!) his own excellent character and handsome person, had raised him to more importance than his situation as a junior officer would have warranted; and his behaviour was such as to have secured him the good-will of every one on board of the ship. Newton’s unassuming frank manner, added to a large stock of general information, occasioned his society to be courted, even by those who would otherwise have been inclined to keep at a distance one in his subordinate rank.

When they arrived at St. Helena, the first-mate, for a wonder, no longer made any difficulty of going on shore for an hour or two, if he knew that Newton would be the commanding officer during his absence; nay, so high did he stand in the opinion of his captain, that nut only was he permitted to take charge of the chronometers, but, if called away for a time below, Captain Drawlock would hand over to Newton’s charge any one of the unmarriedresponsibilities, who might happen to be leaning on his arm.

The Indiamen being now left to protect themselves, the senior officer, Commodore Bottlecock, issued most elaborate memoranda, as to the order of sailing, exercise of the men at the great guns and small arms, and every other point which could tend to their security by due preparation. Nevertheless, the ladies continued to appear on deck. Mrs Ferguson sat in her majesty; the young ladies tittered, and were reprimanded; the young gentlemen were facetious, and were rebuked; the old colonel talked of his adventure at Madeira, and compared every thing to the spent ball at the battle of —. Dr Plausible had become a most assiduous attendant upon Miss Tavistock, ever since he had satisfactorily ascertained that she had property of her own; every body had become intimate; every one was becoming tired, when the bearings and distance at noon placed them about two hundred miles from Point de Galle, the southernmost extremity of Ceylon. The wind was fresh and fair, and they congratulated each other upon a speedy termination to their tedious voyage.

Dinner was announced by the old tune of “Oh! the roast beef of old England;” and during a long voyage the announcement of dinner is a very great relief every way. As had been the invariable rule throughout the whole of the voyage, Miss Charlotte and Miss Laura Revel were placed on the one side of Captain Drawlock, Miss Tavistock and Isabel Revel on the other. They were flanked on the other side by Mrs and Mr Ferguson, who thus separated them from any undue collision with the gentlemen passengers or officers of the ship. The colonel was placed next to Mrs Ferguson, the young writer next to her husband; then the two cadets, supported by the doctor and purser, the remainder of the table being filled up with the officers of the ship, with the first-mate at the foot. Such was the order of Captain Drawlock’s dinner—sailing; as strictly adhered to as the memoranda of Commodore Bottlecock: the only communication permitted with the young ladies under his charge (unless married men) being to “request the honour of drinking a glass of wine with them.”

All this may appear very absurd; but a little reflection will convince the reader to the contrary. There is a serious responsibility on a captain of an Indiaman, who takes charge of perhaps a dozen young women, who are to be cooped up for months in the same ship with as many young men. Love, powerful every where, has on the waters even more potent sway, hereditary I presume, from his mother’s nativity. Idleness is the friend of love; and passengers have little or nothing to do to while away the tedium of a voyage. In another point, he has great advantage, from the limited number of the fair sex. In a ball or in general society, a man may see hundreds of women, admire many, yet fall in love with none. Numbers increase the difficulty of choice, and he remains delighted, but not enslaved. But on board of a ship, the continued presence of one whom he admires by comparison out of the few,—one who, perhaps, if on shore, would in a short time be eclipsed by another, but who here shines without competition,—gives her an advantage which, assisted by idleness and opportunity, magnifies her attractions, and sharpens the arrow of all-conquering Love. Captain Drawlock perhaps knew this from experience; he knew also that the friends of one party, if not of both, might be displeased by any contract formed when under his surveillance, and that his character and the character of his ship (for ships now-a-days have characters, and very much depend upon them for their well doing) might suffer in consequence. Strict as he might therefore appear, he was only doing his duty.

Grace being requested from Mr Ferguson, he indulged the company with one quite as long as usual; rather too long considering that the ship was very unsteady, and the ladies had to cling to the table for support. But Mr Ferguson was not a sailor, or he would have known that it is the custom to reduce the grace in proportion with the canvass. When the royals are set, we submit to a homily; under double-reefed topsails, a blessing; but under storm stay-sails, an ejaculation is considered as orthodox.

“Mrs Ferguson, will you permit me to send you a little mulligatawney? said Captain Drawlock. If you prefer it, there is sheep’s-head broth at the other end of the table.”

“Then I will take a little of the broth, if you please, Captain Drawlock.”

“Mr Mathews, Mrs Ferguson will take some broth. I am sorry, Mrs Ferguson, that our table is so ill-supplied; but a long voyage and bad weather has been very fatal to our hen-coops.”

“Indeed, Captain Drawlock, you need not apologise.” Nor was there any occasion, for the table was loaded.

“Perhaps Miss Laura Revel will permit me to send her a slice of this mutton?” said the obsequious colonel.

“No, I thank you; I have eaten nothing but mutton lately. I think I shall be a sheep myself soon,” added the young lady, tittering.

“That would be very much against your inclination, I should think, Miss Laura,” observed Mrs Ferguson, tartly.

“La! why so? how do you know, Mrs Ferguson?”

“Because a sheep never changes its name until after it is dead. I shrewdly suspect you would like to change yours before.”—(This was a hard hit.)

“As you have yours, Mrs Ferguson,” quietly answered Isabel, in support of her sister.

“Very fair on both sides,” said the colonel, bowing to the ladies, who sat together. “Pray Miss Laura, don’t talk of being a sheep, we are all ready to devour you as it is.”

“La! you don’t say so?” replied the young lady, much pleased.

“Colonel Ellice,” interrupted Captain Drawlock, with a serious air, “several of the company will thank you to carve that joint, when you have finished paying your compliments. Miss Tavistock, the honour of a glass of wine. We have not had the pleasure of your company on deck to-day.”

“No, Captain Drawlock. I did intend to come, but my health is in such a delicate state, that by the advice of Dr Plausible I remained below.”

“Miss Tavistock will you allow me to send you some mutton?”

“If you please, colonel; a very small slice.”

“Mr Forster, what have you in that dish before you?”

“A chicken, Captain Drawlock.”

“Miss Isabel Revel, will you take some chicken?”

“No, I thank you, Captain Drawlock,” replied Isabel.

“Did you say yes or no?” inquired Newton, who had caught her eye.

“I’ll change my mind,” said Isabel, smiling.

Now, I know it for a fact, although I shall not give up my authority, that Isabel Revel never wanted any chicken until she perceiveth that Newton was to help her. So, if Love occasionally takes away the appetite, let us do him justice—he sometimes creates one.

“Miss Tavistock, allow me to send you a little of this Turkey,” said Dr Plausible; “it is easy of digestion.”

“If you please, doctor,” replied Miss Tavistock, cramming the last mouthful of mutton into her mouth, and sending away her plate to be changed.

“Will you not take a little ham with it, Miss Tavistock?” said Captain Drawlock.

“If you please, sir.”

“The honour of a glass of wine, Miss Tavistock,” said the colonel.

“With pleasure, sir.”

“Miss Charlotte Revel, you have really eaten nothing,” said Captain Drawlock.

“That proves you have not paid me the least attention,” replied the young lady. “Had you honoured me with a single glance during dinner, you could not but have observed that I have been dining very heartily.”

“I really am quite shocked, Miss Charlotte, and bow to your reproof. Will you take a glass of wine with me in reconciliation?”

“I consider a glass of Madeira a very poor bribe, sir.”

“Well, then, Miss Charlotte, it shall be champagne,” replied Captain Drawlock, in his gallantry. “Steward, champagne.” A fortunate hit for the company, as champagne was in general only produced upon what sailors call ‘clean shirt days,’ viz. Sundays and Thursdays.

“We are highly indebted to Miss Revel,” observed the colonel, bowing to her; “and I think we ought to drink her health in a bumper.”

Agreed to,nem con.

Champagne, thou darling of my heart! To stupefy oneself with other wines, is brutal; but to raise oneself to the seventh heaven with thee, is quite ethereal. The soul appears to spurn the body, and take a transient flight without its dull associate—the—the—broke down, by Jupiter! All I meant to say was, that champagne is very prettytipple; and so thought the dinner party, who were proportionally enlivened.

“Is this orthodox, Mr Ferguson?” inquired the colonel, holding up his glass.

“So far orthodox, that it is very good; and what is orthodox is good,” replied the divine, with good-humour.

“The Asia has made the signal for ‘a strange sail—suspicious,’” said the second-mate to Captain Drawlock, putting his head into the cabin.

“Very well, Mr Jones, keep a glass upon the commodore.”

“Mrs Ferguson, will you take some of this tart? Damascene, I believe,” said the first-mate.

“If you please, Mr Mathews.—Did not Mr Jones say suspicious?—What does that imply?”

“Imply, madam; why that he don’t like the cut of her jib!”

“And pray what does that mean?”

“Mean, madam; why, that for all he knows to the contrary, she may be a French frigate.”

“A French frigate! a French frigate! O dear! O dear!” cried two or three ladies at a breath.

“Mr Mathews,” said Captain Drawlock, “I am really surprised at your indiscretion. You have alarmed the ladies. A suspicious sail, Mrs Ferguson, merely implies—in fact, that they do not know what she is.”

“Is thatallit means?” replied Mrs Ferguson, with an incredulous look.

“Nothing more, madam; nothing more, I assure you.”

“Commodore has made a signal that strange vessel is a man-of-war bearing down,” said the second-mate, again entering the cabin.

“Very well, Mr Jones,” said Captain Drawlock, with assumed indifference, but at the same time fidgeting on his chair.

The first-mate and Newton immediately quitted the cabin.

“Miss Tavistock, will you take a little of this pudding?”

“If you please, sir, a very little.”

“A man-of-war! I’ll go and have a look at her,” said the colonel; who rose up, bowed to the ladies, and left the cuddy.

“Most probably one of our cruisers,” observed Captain Drawlock.

“The commodore has made the signal to prepare for action, sir,” said the second-mate.

“Very well, Mr Jones,” said Captain Drawlock, who could now restrain himself no longer. “You must excuse me, ladies, for a moment or two, but our commodore is soveryprudent a man, and I am under his orders. In a short time I hope to return to the pleasure of your society.”

Captain Drawlock’s departure was followed by that of all the male party, with the exception of Doctor Plausible and Mr Ferguson, both of whom however were anxious to go upon deck, and ascertain how matters stood.

“Mr Ferguson, where are you going?” said his wife, sharply. “Pray, sir, do us the favour to remain. Your profession, if I mistake not, is one of peace.”

“Oh! Doctor Plausible, I feel very unwell,” cried Miss Tavistock.

“I will stay with you, my dear madam,” replied the doctor.

A gun from the commodore’s ship, which was close to windward of them, burst upon their ears, rattling the cabin windows, and making every wine-glass on the table to dance with the concussion.

“Oh! oh! oh!” screamed Miss Tavistock, throwing herself back in her chair, and expanding her arms and fingers.

Doctor Plausible flew to the lady’s assistance.

“The extreme fineness of her organic structure—a little water, if you please, Miss Charlotte Revel.”

A tumbler of water was poured out, and Doctor Plausible, dipping the tip of his fore-finger into it, passed it lightly over the lady’s brows. “She will be better directly.”

But the lady did not think proper tocome toso soon as the doctor prophesied, and Mrs Ferguson, snatching up the tumbler, dashed the contents with violence in Miss Tavistock’s face; at which Miss Tavistock not only revived, but jumped up from her chair, blowing and spluttering.

“Are you better now, Miss Tavistock?” said Mrs Ferguson, soothingly, at the same time glancing her eyes at the other ladies, who could not restrain their mirth.

“Oh! Doctor Plausible, that shock has so affected my nerves, I feel that I shall faint again, I do indeed—I’m going—”

“Lean upon me, Miss Tavistock, and permit me to conduct you to your cabin,” replied the doctor; “the extreme delicacy of your constitution,” continued he whispering as they left the cuddy, “is not equal to the boisterous remedies of Mrs Ferguson.”

As they went out, Newton Forster came in.

“You must not be alarmed, ladies, when I state that I am commissioned by Captain Drawlock to inform you that the stranger’s manoeuvres are so doubtful, that we think she is an enemy. He has desired me to request you will accept my convoy to the lower-deck, where you will be safe from accident, in the event of our coming to an engagement. Mr Ferguson, the captain intrusts the ladies to your charge, and requests that you will not leave them upon any consideration. Now, Mrs Ferguson, will you permit me to escort you to a place of security?”

At this intelligence Laura Revel stared, Charlotte burst into tears, and Isabel turned pale. Mrs Ferguson took the arm of Newton without saying a word, when the other was offered and accepted by Isabel. Mr Ferguson, with the two other sisters, brought up the rear. The ladies had to pass the quarter-deck, and when they saw the preparations, the guns cast loose, the shot lying on the deck, and all the various apparatus for destruction, their fears increased. When they had been conducted to their place of safety, Newton was about to return on deck, when he was seized by Miss Charlotte and Laura Revel, who entreated him not to leave them.

“Do stay with us, Mr Forster; pray don’t go,” cried they both.

“I must indeed, ladies; you are perfectly safe here.”

“For God’s sake, don’t you go away, Mr Forster!” cried Laura, falling on her knees. “I shall die of fright.—You shan’t go!” screamed Laura, as the two sisters clung on to the skirts of his jacket, and effectually prevented his escape, unless, like the patriarch, he had left his garment behind.

Newton cast an appealing glance at Isabel, who immediately interfered,—“Charlotte, for shame! you are preventing Mr Forster from going to his duty. My dear Laura, do not be so foolish; Mr Forster can be of no service to us: but he will be on deck. Let go, Laura.”

Newton was released. “I am much obliged to you, Miss Isabel,” said Newton, with his foot on the ladder; “but I have no time now to express my thanks—not to be on deck—”

“I know it, Mr Forster: go up, I beseech you, do not wait a moment;” and Newton sprung up the ladder; but not before he had exchanged with Isabel a glance, which, had he been deficient in courage, would have nerved him for the approaching combat. We must leave the ladies with Mr Ferguson (who had no pleasant office), while we follow Newton on deck. The stranger had borne down with studding-sails, until within three miles of the India-men, when she rounded to. She then kept away a little, to close nearer, evidently examining the force opposed to her. The Indiamen had formed the line of battle in close order, the private signal between English men-of-war and East India ships flying at their mast-heads.

“Extremely strange, that she does not answer the private signal,” said the colonel to the second-mate.

“Not at all, if she don’t know how.”

“You are convinced, then, that she is a French frigate?”

“No, not positive; but I’ll bet you ten to one she is:— bet off, if either of us are killed, of course!”

“Thanky; I never bet,” answered the colonel, turning away.

“What do you think of her, Mr Mathews?” said Captain Drawlock to the first-mate, who had his eye on the ship.

“She is English built and English rigged, sir, that I’ll swear; look at her lower yard-arms, the squaring of her topsails. She may be French now, but the oak in her timbers grew in old England.”

“I agree with you,” said Newton: look at the rake of her stern; she’s English all over.

“Then why don’t she answer the private signal?” said Captain Drawlock.

“She’s right in the wind’s eye of us, sir, and our flags are blowing end on from her.”

“There goes up her bunting, sir,” cried the first-mate.

“English, as I said. The commodore is answering, sir. Up with the ensign there abaft. All’s right, tell the ladies.”

“I will; I’ll go and inform them,” said the colonel; who immediately descended to impart the joyful intelligence.

The frigate bore down, and hove to. The commodore of the India squadron went on board, when he found that she was cruising for some large Dutch store-ships and vessels armeden flute, which were supposed to have sailed from Java. In a quarter of an hour, she again made sail, and parted company, leaving the Indiamen to secure their guns, and pursue their course.

There are two parties, whose proceedings we had overlooked; we refer to Miss Tavistock and Dr Plausible. The latter handed the lady to her cabin, eased her down upon her couch, and, taking her hand gently, retained it in his own, while with his other he continued to watch her pulse.

“Do not alarm yourself, my dear Miss Tavistock; your sensibility is immense. I will not leave you. I cannot think what could have induced you to trust yourself on such a voyage of danger and excitement.”

“Oh! Dr Plausible, where my affections are centred, there is nothing, weak creature that I am, but my soul would carry me through:— indeed I am all soul.—I have a dear friend in India.”

“He is most happy,” observed the doctor, with a sigh.

“He, Dr Plausible! you quite shock me!—Do you imagine for a moment that I would go out to follow any gentleman? No, indeed, I am not going out on speculation, as some young ladies:— I have enough of my own, thank God! I keep my carriage and corresponding establishment, I assure you.”—(The very thing that Dr Plausible required.)

“Indeed! my dear Miss Tavistock, is it then really a female friend?”

“Yes! the friend of my childhood. I have ventured this tedious, dangerous voyage, once more to fold her in my arms.”

“Disinterested affection! a heart like yours, Miss, were indeed a treasure to be won. What a happy man would your husband be!”

“Husband! Oh, Dr Plausible don’t mention it: I feel convinced,—positively convinced, that my constitution is not strong enough to bear matrimony.”

The doctor’s answer was too prolix for insertion; it was a curious compound dissertation upon love and physic, united. There was devoted attention, extreme gentle treatment, study of pathology, advantage of medical attendance always at hand, careful nursing, extreme solicitude, fragility of constitution restored, propriety of enlarging the circle of her innocent affections, ending at last in devoted love, and a proposal—to share her carriage and establishment.

Miss Tavistock assumed another faint—the shock was so great; but the doctor knelt by her, and kissed her hand, with well-affected rapture. At last, she murmured out a low assent, and fell back, as if exhausted with the effort. The doctor removed his lips from her hand to her mouth, to seal the contract; and, as she yielded to his wishes, almost regretted that he had not adhered to his previous less assuming gallantry.

Volume Two--Chapter Nineteen.’Tis sweet to hear the watch-dog’s honest bark,Bay deep-mouth’d welcome as we draw near home;’Tis sweet to know there is an eye will markOur coming—and look brighter when we come.Byron.Edward Forster returned home with his littleprotegée, his mind relieved from the weight which had oppressed it: he knew that the word of his brother was his bond, and that under a rough exterior he concealed a generous and sympathising heart. It was in the early part of the autumn that he again took possession of the cottage; and as he once more seated himself in his old arm-chair, he mentally exclaimed, “Here then am I again at anchor for a short time, until summoned to another world.” His prophecy was correct; during the severe winter that followed, his wound opened again, and his constitution, worn out, gave way to repeated suffering. He had not been confined to his bed more than a fortnight when he felt that his end was approaching. He had long been prepared: nothing remained to be done but to write a letter to his brother, which he confided to Robinson, the fisherman, with directions that it should be put into the post-office immediately after his death; and a strict charge to watch over the little girl, until she should be sent for by his brother.This last necessary act had been completed when Robinson, who was standing by the side of the bed, with the letter in his hand, informed him that the family at the Hall had returned from the Continent on the evening before, with their only son, who was now restored to health. This intelligence induced Forster to alter his plans; and trusting to the former friendship of Lord Aveleyn, he despatched Robinson to the Hall, stating his own condition, and requesting that his lordship would come to the cottage. Lord Aveleyn immediately obeyed the summons, and perceiving at the first glance that Forster’s situation debarred all chance of recovery, took upon himself with willingness the charge of the letter, and promised to receive Amber into his house until it was convenient that she should be removed. It was dark when Lord Aveleyn, with melancholy foreboding, took his last farewell; for, ere the sun had risen again, the spirit of Edward Forster had regained its liberty, and soared to the empyrean, while the deserted Amber wept and prayed.Edward Forster had not concealed from her the precarious tenure of his existence, and since their return from London had made her fully acquainted with all the particulars connected with her own history. The last few weeks, every interval of suffering had been devoted by him to enforce those principles which he ever had inculcated, and to prepare for the event which had now taken place.Amber was kneeling by the side of the bed; she had been there so long, that she was not aware that it was broad day. Her face laid upon her hands, was completely hid by her luxuriant hair, which had escaped from the confinement of the comb, when the door of the chamber of death was softly opened. Amber, who either did not hear the noise, or thought it was the daughter of Robinson, who lived as servant in the cottage, raised not her head. The steps continued to approach, then the sound ceased, and Amber felt the arms of some one encircling her waist to raise her from her kneeling posture. She lifted up her head, and dividing the hair from her forehead, that she might see who it was, perceived that it was young Aveleyn who was hanging over her.“My poor little girl!” said he in a tone of commiseration.“Oh! William Aveleyn,” cried Amber, bursting into a paroxysm of tears, as she was folded in his arms.The sorrow of youth is sympathetic, and William Aveleyn, although seventeen years old, and fast advancing to manhood, did not disdain to mingle his tears with those of his former playmate. It was some time before he could persuade Amber, who clung to him in her grief, to any degree of serenity.“Amber, dear, you must come to us at the Hall; this is no place for you now.”“And why not, William? Why should I leave so soon? I’m not afraid of being here, or lying by his side alone: I’ve seen other people die. I saw Mrs Beazeley die—I saw poor Faithful die; and now, theyallare dead,” said Amber, bursting into tears, and burying her face in William Aveleyn’s bosom. “I knew that he was to die,” said she, raising her head after a time—“he told me so; but, to think that I shall never hear him speak again—that very soon I shall never see him more—I must cry, William.”“But your father is happy, Amber.”“Heis happy, I know; but he was not my father, William. I have no father—no friend on earth I know of. He told me all before he died; Faithful brought me from the sea.”This intelligence roused the curiosity of William Aveleyn, who interrogated Amber, and obtained from her the whole of the particulars communicated by Edward Forster; and, as she answered to his many questions, she grew more composed.The narrative had scarcely been finished, when Lord Aveleyn, who had been summoned by Robinson, drove to the door, accompanied by Lady Aveleyn, who thought that her presence and persuasions would more readily induce Amber to heave the cottage. Convinced by her of the propriety of the proposal, Amber was put into the carriage without resistance, and conveyed to the Hall, where every thing that kindness and sympathy could suggest was resorted to, to assuage her grief. There we must leave her, and repair to the metropolis.“Scratton,” said Mr John Forster to his clerk, who had answered the bell, “recollect I cannot see any one to-day.”“You have several appointments, sir,” replied the clerk.“Then send, and put them all off.”“Yes, sir; and if any one calls, I am to say that you are not at home?”“No, I am at home; why tell a lie? but I cannot see any body.”The clerk shut the door; John Forster put on his spectacles to reperuse the letter which lay before him. It was the one from Edward, inclosed in a frank by Lord Aveleyn, with a few lines, announcing his brother’s death, and stating that Amber was at the Hall, where they should be glad that she should remain until it was convenient to send for her. Edward’s letter repeated his thanks to his brother for his kind promise, and took a last and affectionate farewell. John Forster struggled for a time with his feelings; but the more he attempted to repress them, the more violent they became. He was alone, and he gave them vent. The legal documents before him, arising from the bitterness of strife, were thus unusually moistened with a tribute to a brother’s memory. But in a few moments the old lawyer was himself again; all traces of emotion had disappeared, and no one who had seen him then would ever have imagined that John Forster could have been thus moved. The next day he was not as usual to be found at his chambers: the fact was, that he had set off immediately after breakfast, upon what is generally termed “house hunting.” The apartments which he occupied in his chambers were not sufficient for the intended increase of his establishment; and when he had given his promise to Edward, he was fully aware of the expense which would be entailed by receiving Amber, and had made up his mind to incur it. He therefore fixed upon a convenient house in Lincoln’s-Inn-Fields, which would not detach him far from his chambers. Having arranged for a lease of twelve years, John Forster returned to his chambers.“Scratton,” said he, “look out for a man-servant, a cook, housemaid, and a steady woman, as housekeeper—good characters, and undeniable reference. The housekeeper must be a somewhat superior person, as she will have to take charge of a young miss, and I do not want her spoiled by keeping company with the general description of servants. Do you understand?”Scratton did; and in less than a month, as every thing is to be obtained for money in the city of London, the house was furnished by a city upholsterer in a plain way, and all the servants installed in their respective situations.Mr John Forster took possession of his new house, and tried for a week if all worked well. Ascertaining that the furniture was complete, the under-servants well behaved, and the housekeeper a mild and very intelligent personage, fit to be intrusted with the charge of a little girl, he then wrote to Lord Aveleyn, reiterating the thanks conveyed in his former letter, and requesting that Amber might be delivered into the charge of the bearer. With this letter Mr Scratton was despatched, and, in due time, arrived at the Hall. Amber wept bitterly at the idea of parting with those who had been so kind to her, and passing into the hands of one who was a stranger. Having exacted a promise from William Aveleyn that he would call as he passed through on his way to Cambridge, she bade her kind friends farewell, entered the chaise in company with Mr Scratton, and was hurried off to London.Mr Scratton was one of those personages who never spoke except on business; and, having no business to transact with a girl of twelve years old, he never spoke at all except when necessity rendered it imperative. Amber was therefore left to her own reflections. What they all were I cannot tell; but one certainly was, that travelling in a chaise for two days with Mr Scratton was not very agreeable. Most happy was she when they drove up to the door of Mr John Forster’s new habitation. The old gentleman, who had calculated the hour of her arrival after the receipt of a letter from her companion, was there to receive her. Amber, who had been prepossessed in his favour by Edward Forster, who had told her that in his brother she would find a protector and indulgent parent, ran up to him when she entered the room, and burst into tears as the injunctions of Edward Forster returned to her memory. John Forster took her in his arms, and kissed her. “My little girl,” said he, “what my brother was, such will I be to you. Consider me as your father; for his memory, and I hope soon, for your own sake, I shall rejoice to be so.”After an hour, by which time Amber had recovered her serenity, and become almost cheerful, she was consigned to the charge of Mrs Smith the housekeeper, and John Forster hastened back to his chambers and his clients, to make up for so much lost time.It was not long before the old gentleman discovered that the trouble and expense which he had incurred to please his brother was the occasion of pleasure and gratification. He no longer felt isolated in the world: in short, he had ahome, where a beaming eye met his return, and an affectionate heart ministered to his wishes; where his well-known rap at the door was a source of delight, and his departure one of regret.In a few months Amber had entwined herself round the old man’s heart; the best masters were procured for her, and all the affection of a doting parent upon an only child was bestowed by him who, when the proposition was made, had declared that “it was bad enough to maintain children of one’s own begetting.”Bless my soul! how poor authors are obliged to gallop about. Now I must be off again to India, and get on board of the Bombay Castle.End of the Second Volume.

’Tis sweet to hear the watch-dog’s honest bark,Bay deep-mouth’d welcome as we draw near home;’Tis sweet to know there is an eye will markOur coming—and look brighter when we come.Byron.

’Tis sweet to hear the watch-dog’s honest bark,Bay deep-mouth’d welcome as we draw near home;’Tis sweet to know there is an eye will markOur coming—and look brighter when we come.Byron.

Edward Forster returned home with his littleprotegée, his mind relieved from the weight which had oppressed it: he knew that the word of his brother was his bond, and that under a rough exterior he concealed a generous and sympathising heart. It was in the early part of the autumn that he again took possession of the cottage; and as he once more seated himself in his old arm-chair, he mentally exclaimed, “Here then am I again at anchor for a short time, until summoned to another world.” His prophecy was correct; during the severe winter that followed, his wound opened again, and his constitution, worn out, gave way to repeated suffering. He had not been confined to his bed more than a fortnight when he felt that his end was approaching. He had long been prepared: nothing remained to be done but to write a letter to his brother, which he confided to Robinson, the fisherman, with directions that it should be put into the post-office immediately after his death; and a strict charge to watch over the little girl, until she should be sent for by his brother.

This last necessary act had been completed when Robinson, who was standing by the side of the bed, with the letter in his hand, informed him that the family at the Hall had returned from the Continent on the evening before, with their only son, who was now restored to health. This intelligence induced Forster to alter his plans; and trusting to the former friendship of Lord Aveleyn, he despatched Robinson to the Hall, stating his own condition, and requesting that his lordship would come to the cottage. Lord Aveleyn immediately obeyed the summons, and perceiving at the first glance that Forster’s situation debarred all chance of recovery, took upon himself with willingness the charge of the letter, and promised to receive Amber into his house until it was convenient that she should be removed. It was dark when Lord Aveleyn, with melancholy foreboding, took his last farewell; for, ere the sun had risen again, the spirit of Edward Forster had regained its liberty, and soared to the empyrean, while the deserted Amber wept and prayed.

Edward Forster had not concealed from her the precarious tenure of his existence, and since their return from London had made her fully acquainted with all the particulars connected with her own history. The last few weeks, every interval of suffering had been devoted by him to enforce those principles which he ever had inculcated, and to prepare for the event which had now taken place.

Amber was kneeling by the side of the bed; she had been there so long, that she was not aware that it was broad day. Her face laid upon her hands, was completely hid by her luxuriant hair, which had escaped from the confinement of the comb, when the door of the chamber of death was softly opened. Amber, who either did not hear the noise, or thought it was the daughter of Robinson, who lived as servant in the cottage, raised not her head. The steps continued to approach, then the sound ceased, and Amber felt the arms of some one encircling her waist to raise her from her kneeling posture. She lifted up her head, and dividing the hair from her forehead, that she might see who it was, perceived that it was young Aveleyn who was hanging over her.

“My poor little girl!” said he in a tone of commiseration.

“Oh! William Aveleyn,” cried Amber, bursting into a paroxysm of tears, as she was folded in his arms.

The sorrow of youth is sympathetic, and William Aveleyn, although seventeen years old, and fast advancing to manhood, did not disdain to mingle his tears with those of his former playmate. It was some time before he could persuade Amber, who clung to him in her grief, to any degree of serenity.

“Amber, dear, you must come to us at the Hall; this is no place for you now.”

“And why not, William? Why should I leave so soon? I’m not afraid of being here, or lying by his side alone: I’ve seen other people die. I saw Mrs Beazeley die—I saw poor Faithful die; and now, theyallare dead,” said Amber, bursting into tears, and burying her face in William Aveleyn’s bosom. “I knew that he was to die,” said she, raising her head after a time—“he told me so; but, to think that I shall never hear him speak again—that very soon I shall never see him more—I must cry, William.”

“But your father is happy, Amber.”

“Heis happy, I know; but he was not my father, William. I have no father—no friend on earth I know of. He told me all before he died; Faithful brought me from the sea.”

This intelligence roused the curiosity of William Aveleyn, who interrogated Amber, and obtained from her the whole of the particulars communicated by Edward Forster; and, as she answered to his many questions, she grew more composed.

The narrative had scarcely been finished, when Lord Aveleyn, who had been summoned by Robinson, drove to the door, accompanied by Lady Aveleyn, who thought that her presence and persuasions would more readily induce Amber to heave the cottage. Convinced by her of the propriety of the proposal, Amber was put into the carriage without resistance, and conveyed to the Hall, where every thing that kindness and sympathy could suggest was resorted to, to assuage her grief. There we must leave her, and repair to the metropolis.

“Scratton,” said Mr John Forster to his clerk, who had answered the bell, “recollect I cannot see any one to-day.”

“You have several appointments, sir,” replied the clerk.

“Then send, and put them all off.”

“Yes, sir; and if any one calls, I am to say that you are not at home?”

“No, I am at home; why tell a lie? but I cannot see any body.”

The clerk shut the door; John Forster put on his spectacles to reperuse the letter which lay before him. It was the one from Edward, inclosed in a frank by Lord Aveleyn, with a few lines, announcing his brother’s death, and stating that Amber was at the Hall, where they should be glad that she should remain until it was convenient to send for her. Edward’s letter repeated his thanks to his brother for his kind promise, and took a last and affectionate farewell. John Forster struggled for a time with his feelings; but the more he attempted to repress them, the more violent they became. He was alone, and he gave them vent. The legal documents before him, arising from the bitterness of strife, were thus unusually moistened with a tribute to a brother’s memory. But in a few moments the old lawyer was himself again; all traces of emotion had disappeared, and no one who had seen him then would ever have imagined that John Forster could have been thus moved. The next day he was not as usual to be found at his chambers: the fact was, that he had set off immediately after breakfast, upon what is generally termed “house hunting.” The apartments which he occupied in his chambers were not sufficient for the intended increase of his establishment; and when he had given his promise to Edward, he was fully aware of the expense which would be entailed by receiving Amber, and had made up his mind to incur it. He therefore fixed upon a convenient house in Lincoln’s-Inn-Fields, which would not detach him far from his chambers. Having arranged for a lease of twelve years, John Forster returned to his chambers.

“Scratton,” said he, “look out for a man-servant, a cook, housemaid, and a steady woman, as housekeeper—good characters, and undeniable reference. The housekeeper must be a somewhat superior person, as she will have to take charge of a young miss, and I do not want her spoiled by keeping company with the general description of servants. Do you understand?”

Scratton did; and in less than a month, as every thing is to be obtained for money in the city of London, the house was furnished by a city upholsterer in a plain way, and all the servants installed in their respective situations.

Mr John Forster took possession of his new house, and tried for a week if all worked well. Ascertaining that the furniture was complete, the under-servants well behaved, and the housekeeper a mild and very intelligent personage, fit to be intrusted with the charge of a little girl, he then wrote to Lord Aveleyn, reiterating the thanks conveyed in his former letter, and requesting that Amber might be delivered into the charge of the bearer. With this letter Mr Scratton was despatched, and, in due time, arrived at the Hall. Amber wept bitterly at the idea of parting with those who had been so kind to her, and passing into the hands of one who was a stranger. Having exacted a promise from William Aveleyn that he would call as he passed through on his way to Cambridge, she bade her kind friends farewell, entered the chaise in company with Mr Scratton, and was hurried off to London.

Mr Scratton was one of those personages who never spoke except on business; and, having no business to transact with a girl of twelve years old, he never spoke at all except when necessity rendered it imperative. Amber was therefore left to her own reflections. What they all were I cannot tell; but one certainly was, that travelling in a chaise for two days with Mr Scratton was not very agreeable. Most happy was she when they drove up to the door of Mr John Forster’s new habitation. The old gentleman, who had calculated the hour of her arrival after the receipt of a letter from her companion, was there to receive her. Amber, who had been prepossessed in his favour by Edward Forster, who had told her that in his brother she would find a protector and indulgent parent, ran up to him when she entered the room, and burst into tears as the injunctions of Edward Forster returned to her memory. John Forster took her in his arms, and kissed her. “My little girl,” said he, “what my brother was, such will I be to you. Consider me as your father; for his memory, and I hope soon, for your own sake, I shall rejoice to be so.”

After an hour, by which time Amber had recovered her serenity, and become almost cheerful, she was consigned to the charge of Mrs Smith the housekeeper, and John Forster hastened back to his chambers and his clients, to make up for so much lost time.

It was not long before the old gentleman discovered that the trouble and expense which he had incurred to please his brother was the occasion of pleasure and gratification. He no longer felt isolated in the world: in short, he had ahome, where a beaming eye met his return, and an affectionate heart ministered to his wishes; where his well-known rap at the door was a source of delight, and his departure one of regret.

In a few months Amber had entwined herself round the old man’s heart; the best masters were procured for her, and all the affection of a doting parent upon an only child was bestowed by him who, when the proposition was made, had declared that “it was bad enough to maintain children of one’s own begetting.”

Bless my soul! how poor authors are obliged to gallop about. Now I must be off again to India, and get on board of the Bombay Castle.

Volume Three--Chapter One.A green and gilded snake had wreathed itself,Who, with her head, nimble in threats, approach’dThe opening of his mouth.Shakespeare.The Bombay Castle arrived at Madras without further adventure. A few hours after she had anchored, all the passengers, receiving kind messages from, or escorted on shore by their relatives or consignees, had landed; all, with the exception of the three Miss Revels, whose anxiety to land was increased by the departure of the others, and the unpleasant situation in which they were placed, by remaining a clog upon Captain Drawlock, who would not quit his ship until he had surrendered up his charge. By inquiry of the dubashes, Captain Drawlock found out that an old Colonel Revel was residing at his Bungalo, about two miles distant from the fort, and supposing him not to be aware of the arrival of his grand-nieces, he despatched Newton Forster to acquaint him with the circumstance. It was late in the afternoon when Newton arrived at the residence of the colonel, when he perceived immediately that every thing was on the establishment of an old Indian nabob. A double set of palanquin-bearers were stretched under the verandas; syces were fanning the horses with their chowries; tailors and various craftsmen were at work in the shade, while a herd of consumers, butlers, and other Indian domestics, were loitering about, or very busy doing nothing.It will be necessary, before Newton is introduced to the colonel, that the colonel should be introduced to the reader. He was a man of nearly sixty years of age, forty-five of which, with the exception of occasional furlough, had been passed in the country. Having held several lucrative situations for many years, and, although not parsimonious, being very prudent in money concerns, he had amassed a very large fortune. More than once he had returned to England on leave, and with the full intention of remaining there, if he could be comfortable; but a few months in his native country only made him more anxious to return to India. His habits, his tastes were all eastern; the close hospitality, the cold winter of England, the loss of consequence, naturally resulting when a man mixes in the crowd of London, all disgusted him, and he invariably returned to India long before his furlough had expired. He was a bachelor from choice. When young he had been very cruelly treated by the object of his admiration, who deserted him for a few lacks of rupees, which offered themselves with an old man as their appendage. This had raised his bile against the sex in general, whom he considered as mercenary and treacherous. His parties were numerous and expensive: but women were never to be seen in his house; and his confirmed dislike to them was the occasion of his seldom visiting, except with those who were like himself, in a state of happy singleness. In other points, he was a liberal, worthy man, and a perfect gentleman, but extremely choleric in his disposition.Newton addressed himself to one of the butlers, requesting to be announced. The man led the way to a spacious hall, coated and floored with chunam, when Newton perceived the colonel, who presented rather a singular spectacle. “Burra Saib; Saib,” said the Indian; and immediately retired.The colonel was a tall gaunt man, with high cheek-bones, bushy eyebrows, and white hair. He was seated on a solitary chair in the centre of the hall; his dress consisting of a pair of white nankeen trousers and a white shirt, the sleeves of the latter tucked up to his shoulders, and exposing sinewey arms, covered with hair. By his side lay a basket of mangoes, and before his chair a large tub of water. As Newton entered, he had an opportunity of witnessing the most approved method of eating this exquisite fruit. The colonel had then one as large as a cassowary’s egg, held in both hands, and applied to his mouth, while he held his head over the tub of water, to catch the superabundant juice which flowed over his face, hands, and arms, and covered them with a yellow stain. The contents of the mango were soon exhausted; the stone and pulp were dropped into the tub of water, and the colonel’s hand was extended to the basket for a repetition of his luxurious feast, when Newton was announced. Newton was sorry to interrupt him, and would have made an apology, had he not observed that the colonel, whose back was towards him, continued his pleasing avocation: the fact was, that the colonel was so intent upon his occupation, that he had neither heard the announcement, nor could he perceive Newton, who thus had an opportunity of witnessing the demolition of at least two dozen more mangoes without the colonel having turned his eyes in that direction, or being aware that he was not alone. But something at length attracted the attention of Newton, and induced him to come forward, and put an end to the colonel’s repast. The colonel had just taken another mango out of the basket, when Newton perceived a small snake wind itself over the rim, and curl up one of the feet of the colonel’s chair, in such a position that the very next time that the colonel reached out his hand, he must have come in contact with the reptile. Newton hardly knew how to act; the slightest movement of the old gentleman might be fatal to him; he therefore walked up softly, and was about to strike the animal on the head with his stick, when the colonel, as he leant over the tub, half rose from the chair. In an instant, Newton snatched it from under him, and jerked it, with the snake, to the corner of the hall. The colonel, whose centre of gravity had not been sufficiently forward to enable him to keep his feet, fell backward, when Newton and he both rolled on the floor together; and also both recovered their legs at the same time.“You’ll excuse me, sir,” said Newton.“I’ll be damned if I do, sir!” interrupted the colonel, in a rage; “who the devil are you?—and how dare you presume to play off such impertinent jokes upon a stranger?—Where did you come from, sir?—How did you get in, sir?”“Is that a joke, sir?” replied Newton, calmly pointing to the snake, which was still hissing in its wrath at the corner of the room where the chair lay. Newton then briefly explained the circumstances.“Sir, I beg your pardon a thousand times, and am very much your debtor. It is the most venomous snake that we have in the country. I trust you will accept my apology for a moment’s irritation; and, at the same time, my sincere thanks.” The colonel then summoned the servants, who provided themselves with bamboos, and soon despatched the object which had occasioned the misunderstanding. The colonel then apologised to Newton, while he repaired to the bath, and in a few minutes returned, having undergone the necessary ablution after a mango feast. His dress was changed, and he offered the appearance of an upright gentlemanlike, hard-featured man, who had apparently gone through a great deal of service without his stamina having been much impaired.“I beg your pardon, my dear sir, for detaining you. May I request the pleasure of your name, and the occasion of your providential visit.”“I have a letter for you, sir,” replied Newton, who had been intrusted with the one which Mr Revel had given to his daughters on their embarkation.“Oh! a letter of introduction. It is now quite superfluous; you have already introduced yourself.”“No sir, it is not a letter of recommendation in my behalf; but to announce the arrival of your three grand-nieces—daughters of the Honourable Mr Revel—in the Bombay Castle, the ship to which I belong.”“What?” roared the colonel, “my three grand-nieces! daughters of Mr Revel!”“So I have understood from them, sir.”The colonel tore open the letter, in which Mr Revel very coolly informed him that not having received any answer to his former epistles on the subject, he presumed that they had miscarried, and had therefore been induced in consequence of the difficulties which he laboured under to send his daughters out to his kind protection. The colonel, as soon as he had finished the perusal of the letter, tore it into pieces again and again, every renewed action showing an increase of excitement. He then threw the fragments on the floor, stamping upon them in an ecstasy of rage.“The damned scoundrel!—the villain!—the rascal!—Do you know, sir, that when I was last in England, this fellow swindled me out of a thousand pounds? Yes, sir, a thousand pounds, by God! promised to pay me in three weeks; and when I was coming back, and asked for my money, he laughed at me, and ordered his servant not to let me in. And now he has sent out his three daughters to me—pawned them off upon me, laughing I suppose in his sleeve, as he did when he cheated me before. I’ll not receive them, by God! they may find their way back again how they can;” and the colonel paced the room up and down, throwing his arms about in his fury.Newton waited some time before he ventured to make any observation; indeed he was so astonished at such unheard-of proceeding, and so shocked at the unfortunate situation of Isabel, that he hardly knew what to say.“Am I then to inform the young ladies that you will not receive them?”“You don’t know me, sir.—When did I ever receive a woman into my house? They are all alike, sir.—Plotted with their father, I’ll answer for, with the hopes of getting husbands. Tell them, sir, that I’ll see them damned first—swindling scoundrel!—first cheats me out of a thousand pounds, and then tries to cheat me into providing for his family!”Newton paused a little, to allow the colonel’s wrath to subside, and then observed—“I never was so much distressed as to be the bearer of your message. The young ladies are certainly no parties to their father’s dishonesty, and are in a situation much to be pitied. In a foreign country, thousands of miles from their friends, without means of subsistence, or of paying their passage home. What is to become of them?”“I don’t care.”“That your indignation is just, Colonel Revel, I admit;—but allowing that you will not receive them, how are they to return home? Captain Drawlock, I am sure, would give them a passage; but we proceed to China. Poor girls!” continued Newton, with a sigh. “I should like to make a remark, Colonel Revel, if it were not considered too great a liberty in a stranger.”“You have already taken a liberty, which in all probability has saved my life. I shall be happy to listen to any remark that you may wish to offer.”“It was, sir, that reprehensible as their father’s conduct may be, common humanity, and a regard for your own character, will hardly warrant their being left thus destitute. They at least are your relations, and have neither offended nor deceived you; on the contrary, are, with you, joint victims of their father’s deception.”“You appear to take a great interest in these young ladies,” observed the colonel, sharply.“If I had never seen them, sir, their present unfortunate dilemma would be sufficient. Knowing them intimately as I do, I must say, that this intelligence will be to one; at least, a death-blow. I would to God that I were able to assist and to protect her!”“Very handsome then I presume?” replied the colonel, with a sneer.“She certainly is, sir; but it was not admiration of her beauty which occasioned the remark. If you knew her, sir, you would be as sorry to part with her, as you now appear to be to receive her.”The colonel continued to pace the room, but with less violence than before. Newton observed this, and therefore was silent, hoping that reflection would induce him to alter his resolution. In a few minutes, apparently forgetting the presence of Newton, the colonel commenced talking to himself aloud, muttering out the following detached phrases:“Must take them in by God! Couldn’t show my face—nowhere—damned scoundrel! Keep them here till next ship—till they are as yellow as gamboge, then send them home—revenge in that.”Thus did the old gentleman mutter loud enough for Newton to overhear. A few minutes more were spent in perambulation, when he threw himself into the chair.“I think, my young acquaintance, you appear to be interested for these relations of mine; or at least for one of them.”“I certainly am, sir; and so is every one who is acquainted with her.”“Well, I am glad to hear that there is one good out of the three. I have been put in a passion—no wonder; and I have said more than should be repeated. Were it known that these girls had been sent out to me in this way, the laugh would be raised against me, as it is known that I am not very partial to women; and it would also be of serious injury to them and their prospects. I have determined upon receiving them, for the best of all possible reasons—I can’t help myself. You will therefore add to the obligations of this day, by saying nothing about what has been made known to you.”“Most certainly, sir; I will pledge you my honour, if it is requested.”“When I say not mention it, I mean to other parties; but to the girls, I must request you to state the facts. I will not have them come here, pawing and fondling, and wheedling me as an old bachelor, with a few lacks of rupees to be coaxed out of. It would make me sick; I detest women and their ways. Now if they are informed of the real state of the case, that they are here only on sufferance; that I neither wished nor want them; and that I have been imposed upon by their scoundrel of a father, I may keep them at the other end of the bungalo, and not be annoyed with their company; until, upon plea of bad health, or some other excuse, I can pay their passage back again.”“Could you not state these facts yourself, sir?”“No, I never meddle with women; besides, it is better that they should know it before they come here. If you will promise me what I now request, why I will consent to give them house-room; if not, they may stay where they are. It will be but a few days laugh at me, or abuse of me, I care little which.”“Well, sir, unpleasant as this intelligence must be, their present suspense is still more so. You will allow me to disclose it in as delicate a manner as possible.”“You may be as refined as you please, provided that you tell the exact truth, which I am convinced that you will, by your countenance.”“Then I will take my leave, sir,” replied Newton.“Fare you well, my dear sir; recollect that my house is your home; and although not fond of the society of women, I shall be delighted with yours. The young ladies may be brought on shore to the hotel, and I will send a carriage for them. Good-bye.—What is your name?”“Forster, sir.”“Good-bye then, Mr Forster, for the present;” and the colonel quitted the room.

A green and gilded snake had wreathed itself,Who, with her head, nimble in threats, approach’dThe opening of his mouth.Shakespeare.

A green and gilded snake had wreathed itself,Who, with her head, nimble in threats, approach’dThe opening of his mouth.Shakespeare.

The Bombay Castle arrived at Madras without further adventure. A few hours after she had anchored, all the passengers, receiving kind messages from, or escorted on shore by their relatives or consignees, had landed; all, with the exception of the three Miss Revels, whose anxiety to land was increased by the departure of the others, and the unpleasant situation in which they were placed, by remaining a clog upon Captain Drawlock, who would not quit his ship until he had surrendered up his charge. By inquiry of the dubashes, Captain Drawlock found out that an old Colonel Revel was residing at his Bungalo, about two miles distant from the fort, and supposing him not to be aware of the arrival of his grand-nieces, he despatched Newton Forster to acquaint him with the circumstance. It was late in the afternoon when Newton arrived at the residence of the colonel, when he perceived immediately that every thing was on the establishment of an old Indian nabob. A double set of palanquin-bearers were stretched under the verandas; syces were fanning the horses with their chowries; tailors and various craftsmen were at work in the shade, while a herd of consumers, butlers, and other Indian domestics, were loitering about, or very busy doing nothing.

It will be necessary, before Newton is introduced to the colonel, that the colonel should be introduced to the reader. He was a man of nearly sixty years of age, forty-five of which, with the exception of occasional furlough, had been passed in the country. Having held several lucrative situations for many years, and, although not parsimonious, being very prudent in money concerns, he had amassed a very large fortune. More than once he had returned to England on leave, and with the full intention of remaining there, if he could be comfortable; but a few months in his native country only made him more anxious to return to India. His habits, his tastes were all eastern; the close hospitality, the cold winter of England, the loss of consequence, naturally resulting when a man mixes in the crowd of London, all disgusted him, and he invariably returned to India long before his furlough had expired. He was a bachelor from choice. When young he had been very cruelly treated by the object of his admiration, who deserted him for a few lacks of rupees, which offered themselves with an old man as their appendage. This had raised his bile against the sex in general, whom he considered as mercenary and treacherous. His parties were numerous and expensive: but women were never to be seen in his house; and his confirmed dislike to them was the occasion of his seldom visiting, except with those who were like himself, in a state of happy singleness. In other points, he was a liberal, worthy man, and a perfect gentleman, but extremely choleric in his disposition.

Newton addressed himself to one of the butlers, requesting to be announced. The man led the way to a spacious hall, coated and floored with chunam, when Newton perceived the colonel, who presented rather a singular spectacle. “Burra Saib; Saib,” said the Indian; and immediately retired.

The colonel was a tall gaunt man, with high cheek-bones, bushy eyebrows, and white hair. He was seated on a solitary chair in the centre of the hall; his dress consisting of a pair of white nankeen trousers and a white shirt, the sleeves of the latter tucked up to his shoulders, and exposing sinewey arms, covered with hair. By his side lay a basket of mangoes, and before his chair a large tub of water. As Newton entered, he had an opportunity of witnessing the most approved method of eating this exquisite fruit. The colonel had then one as large as a cassowary’s egg, held in both hands, and applied to his mouth, while he held his head over the tub of water, to catch the superabundant juice which flowed over his face, hands, and arms, and covered them with a yellow stain. The contents of the mango were soon exhausted; the stone and pulp were dropped into the tub of water, and the colonel’s hand was extended to the basket for a repetition of his luxurious feast, when Newton was announced. Newton was sorry to interrupt him, and would have made an apology, had he not observed that the colonel, whose back was towards him, continued his pleasing avocation: the fact was, that the colonel was so intent upon his occupation, that he had neither heard the announcement, nor could he perceive Newton, who thus had an opportunity of witnessing the demolition of at least two dozen more mangoes without the colonel having turned his eyes in that direction, or being aware that he was not alone. But something at length attracted the attention of Newton, and induced him to come forward, and put an end to the colonel’s repast. The colonel had just taken another mango out of the basket, when Newton perceived a small snake wind itself over the rim, and curl up one of the feet of the colonel’s chair, in such a position that the very next time that the colonel reached out his hand, he must have come in contact with the reptile. Newton hardly knew how to act; the slightest movement of the old gentleman might be fatal to him; he therefore walked up softly, and was about to strike the animal on the head with his stick, when the colonel, as he leant over the tub, half rose from the chair. In an instant, Newton snatched it from under him, and jerked it, with the snake, to the corner of the hall. The colonel, whose centre of gravity had not been sufficiently forward to enable him to keep his feet, fell backward, when Newton and he both rolled on the floor together; and also both recovered their legs at the same time.

“You’ll excuse me, sir,” said Newton.

“I’ll be damned if I do, sir!” interrupted the colonel, in a rage; “who the devil are you?—and how dare you presume to play off such impertinent jokes upon a stranger?—Where did you come from, sir?—How did you get in, sir?”

“Is that a joke, sir?” replied Newton, calmly pointing to the snake, which was still hissing in its wrath at the corner of the room where the chair lay. Newton then briefly explained the circumstances.

“Sir, I beg your pardon a thousand times, and am very much your debtor. It is the most venomous snake that we have in the country. I trust you will accept my apology for a moment’s irritation; and, at the same time, my sincere thanks.” The colonel then summoned the servants, who provided themselves with bamboos, and soon despatched the object which had occasioned the misunderstanding. The colonel then apologised to Newton, while he repaired to the bath, and in a few minutes returned, having undergone the necessary ablution after a mango feast. His dress was changed, and he offered the appearance of an upright gentlemanlike, hard-featured man, who had apparently gone through a great deal of service without his stamina having been much impaired.

“I beg your pardon, my dear sir, for detaining you. May I request the pleasure of your name, and the occasion of your providential visit.”

“I have a letter for you, sir,” replied Newton, who had been intrusted with the one which Mr Revel had given to his daughters on their embarkation.

“Oh! a letter of introduction. It is now quite superfluous; you have already introduced yourself.”

“No sir, it is not a letter of recommendation in my behalf; but to announce the arrival of your three grand-nieces—daughters of the Honourable Mr Revel—in the Bombay Castle, the ship to which I belong.”

“What?” roared the colonel, “my three grand-nieces! daughters of Mr Revel!”

“So I have understood from them, sir.”

The colonel tore open the letter, in which Mr Revel very coolly informed him that not having received any answer to his former epistles on the subject, he presumed that they had miscarried, and had therefore been induced in consequence of the difficulties which he laboured under to send his daughters out to his kind protection. The colonel, as soon as he had finished the perusal of the letter, tore it into pieces again and again, every renewed action showing an increase of excitement. He then threw the fragments on the floor, stamping upon them in an ecstasy of rage.

“The damned scoundrel!—the villain!—the rascal!—Do you know, sir, that when I was last in England, this fellow swindled me out of a thousand pounds? Yes, sir, a thousand pounds, by God! promised to pay me in three weeks; and when I was coming back, and asked for my money, he laughed at me, and ordered his servant not to let me in. And now he has sent out his three daughters to me—pawned them off upon me, laughing I suppose in his sleeve, as he did when he cheated me before. I’ll not receive them, by God! they may find their way back again how they can;” and the colonel paced the room up and down, throwing his arms about in his fury.

Newton waited some time before he ventured to make any observation; indeed he was so astonished at such unheard-of proceeding, and so shocked at the unfortunate situation of Isabel, that he hardly knew what to say.

“Am I then to inform the young ladies that you will not receive them?”

“You don’t know me, sir.—When did I ever receive a woman into my house? They are all alike, sir.—Plotted with their father, I’ll answer for, with the hopes of getting husbands. Tell them, sir, that I’ll see them damned first—swindling scoundrel!—first cheats me out of a thousand pounds, and then tries to cheat me into providing for his family!”

Newton paused a little, to allow the colonel’s wrath to subside, and then observed—“I never was so much distressed as to be the bearer of your message. The young ladies are certainly no parties to their father’s dishonesty, and are in a situation much to be pitied. In a foreign country, thousands of miles from their friends, without means of subsistence, or of paying their passage home. What is to become of them?”

“I don’t care.”

“That your indignation is just, Colonel Revel, I admit;—but allowing that you will not receive them, how are they to return home? Captain Drawlock, I am sure, would give them a passage; but we proceed to China. Poor girls!” continued Newton, with a sigh. “I should like to make a remark, Colonel Revel, if it were not considered too great a liberty in a stranger.”

“You have already taken a liberty, which in all probability has saved my life. I shall be happy to listen to any remark that you may wish to offer.”

“It was, sir, that reprehensible as their father’s conduct may be, common humanity, and a regard for your own character, will hardly warrant their being left thus destitute. They at least are your relations, and have neither offended nor deceived you; on the contrary, are, with you, joint victims of their father’s deception.”

“You appear to take a great interest in these young ladies,” observed the colonel, sharply.

“If I had never seen them, sir, their present unfortunate dilemma would be sufficient. Knowing them intimately as I do, I must say, that this intelligence will be to one; at least, a death-blow. I would to God that I were able to assist and to protect her!”

“Very handsome then I presume?” replied the colonel, with a sneer.

“She certainly is, sir; but it was not admiration of her beauty which occasioned the remark. If you knew her, sir, you would be as sorry to part with her, as you now appear to be to receive her.”

The colonel continued to pace the room, but with less violence than before. Newton observed this, and therefore was silent, hoping that reflection would induce him to alter his resolution. In a few minutes, apparently forgetting the presence of Newton, the colonel commenced talking to himself aloud, muttering out the following detached phrases:

“Must take them in by God! Couldn’t show my face—nowhere—damned scoundrel! Keep them here till next ship—till they are as yellow as gamboge, then send them home—revenge in that.”

Thus did the old gentleman mutter loud enough for Newton to overhear. A few minutes more were spent in perambulation, when he threw himself into the chair.

“I think, my young acquaintance, you appear to be interested for these relations of mine; or at least for one of them.”

“I certainly am, sir; and so is every one who is acquainted with her.”

“Well, I am glad to hear that there is one good out of the three. I have been put in a passion—no wonder; and I have said more than should be repeated. Were it known that these girls had been sent out to me in this way, the laugh would be raised against me, as it is known that I am not very partial to women; and it would also be of serious injury to them and their prospects. I have determined upon receiving them, for the best of all possible reasons—I can’t help myself. You will therefore add to the obligations of this day, by saying nothing about what has been made known to you.”

“Most certainly, sir; I will pledge you my honour, if it is requested.”

“When I say not mention it, I mean to other parties; but to the girls, I must request you to state the facts. I will not have them come here, pawing and fondling, and wheedling me as an old bachelor, with a few lacks of rupees to be coaxed out of. It would make me sick; I detest women and their ways. Now if they are informed of the real state of the case, that they are here only on sufferance; that I neither wished nor want them; and that I have been imposed upon by their scoundrel of a father, I may keep them at the other end of the bungalo, and not be annoyed with their company; until, upon plea of bad health, or some other excuse, I can pay their passage back again.”

“Could you not state these facts yourself, sir?”

“No, I never meddle with women; besides, it is better that they should know it before they come here. If you will promise me what I now request, why I will consent to give them house-room; if not, they may stay where they are. It will be but a few days laugh at me, or abuse of me, I care little which.”

“Well, sir, unpleasant as this intelligence must be, their present suspense is still more so. You will allow me to disclose it in as delicate a manner as possible.”

“You may be as refined as you please, provided that you tell the exact truth, which I am convinced that you will, by your countenance.”

“Then I will take my leave, sir,” replied Newton.

“Fare you well, my dear sir; recollect that my house is your home; and although not fond of the society of women, I shall be delighted with yours. The young ladies may be brought on shore to the hotel, and I will send a carriage for them. Good-bye.—What is your name?”

“Forster, sir.”

“Good-bye then, Mr Forster, for the present;” and the colonel quitted the room.

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