of the old man was restricted to the duration of his own life. While that lasted he would do his duty. When death dismissed him from his trust, his daughter might act as she pleased. He would not crush hope utterly he feared for his sensitive child-he trusted to time, and the further development of Richard's unfortunate propensity, to disentangle her from an engagement, from which he anticipated any thing for her but respectability and happiness.

Upon Charlotte's returning home, scarcely had she entered the parlour when she found herself in the embrace of her uncle-the captain of a merchant-vessel of about six hundred tons burden. His niece was a great favourite, and happy was she to see him—though more than one sample had he given her of a reckless obstinacy of purpose, when he chanced to fix his mind upon any particular object. He had just arrived, accompanied by a brother captain, a very young man, who, in an unusually short time, had worked his way from a foremost man to the rule of the quarterdeck.

It was this young man's choice to pass through all the gradations of a seaman. Money and connexions would have opened to him a far shorter road to command, but his ambition was to become a thorough sailor; and he was so. His appearance was exceedingly prepossessing-a countenance all alive with talent, spirit, and ingenuousness. He was beloved by every body, and especially by Charlotte's uncle. To Charlotte, his attentions, before he set sail upon his last trip, had been remarkable. They met with no encouragement, however; but any one who had happened to be in the secret, could tell, at a glance, that he had returned with the intention of renewing them.

This was sufficiently clear to Charlotte, to determine her upon retiring as soon as common politeness permitted; scarcely then was supper ended, when she pleaded indisposition, and withdrew. The young sailor presently followed her example, and the brothers were left alone.

The uncle, I need not tell you, favoured the wishes of his young friend. He instantly opened the subject to Charlotte's father, who was no way averse to it.

The pros and cons were debated. Under existing circumstances, it was agreed, that nothing could be more eligible; but constraint was out of the question.

The father would never coerce the inclinations of his child-indeed, the attempt would be fruitless.

"But you would not let her sacrifice her life to her infatuation ?" impatiently exclaimed the sailor. "The girl is so altered for the worse, that had I accidentally met her in the street, I should have passed her without knowing her! She is absolutely pining her existence away! You have revoked your consent to her marriage with this civilian, whom, yet, you allow her, you say, occasionally to meet; thus nourishing a passion, which for years, at least, must be hopeless. There is want of decision here, brother Anthony; this is neither doing one thing nor another. Set your face at once and for ever, resolutely against the connexion. Tell her you have selected a husband for her, and that my friend is the man."

"John," replied the father, "if you would kill your niece, I am not disposed to kill my child."

""Tis your own affair," said the sailor: and the brothers shook hands, and separated for the night.

A gray dawn broke into a glorious day-alternate sunshine and cloud-warm, but breezy. The uncle, the father, and Charlotte, composed the breakfast-party. The first had been up and out since six o'clock, and had just returned.

"What a day for a sail? would Charlotte take a sail? His owner's yacht was at the service of the party. A cruise round to Kinsale would be delightful, and the wind was fair."

Charlotte felt that she had somewhat hazarded her uncle's good graces, by her marked discouragement of his young friend; she was therefore disinclined to thwart him in this instance, particularly as her gratification seemed to be the object.

"She would go."

It now struck her, though, that the young captain would be likely to go too. She was, in no small degree, discomfited when he met her uncle and her, before they were halfway down to the quay.

"All right?" inquired her uncle.

"All ready!" replied the young man.

"Take his arm, Charlotte, while I step in here just to order something which I have forgotten."

In a moment she was leaning upon the arm of her admirer.

"Should Richard see her!"

She looked forebodingly to the other side of the street.

There was

he standing motionless, his eyes riveted upon her, and her unwelcome companion!

"What was she to do?"

She

She half released her arm, it was gently drawn back again. made an effort as if she would cross the street; her escort reminded her that she was going the wrong way. She came to a dead stand, determined to do-she knew not what!" "Hurry on!" cried her uncle, who had just overtaken them. "We must save the ebb, or we shall never get down in time."

Her other arm was instantly drawn within his: in two or three minutes they reached the quay-she was handed into a boat which was in readiness to take the party down to Cove, where the yacht was expecting them. The oars were all in motion. Rapidly they left the quay behind them-with Richard standing upon it-his arms folded upon his breast, his eyes straining after them-the image of reproach, scorn and exasperation.

Charlotte's heart sank within her, in spite of all she could do, the tears gathered in her eyes, ready every moment to gush.

"What is the matter, child?"

She replied not-she durst not trust her utterance-she could not speak-she felt an intolerable sense of suffocation.

"Shall we go back, Charlotte?"

"No, sir; it is now too late!"

And she no longer resisted the efforts of her feelings; but wept long and bitterly.

"Rain lays the wind," murmured the captain to himself.

That day and the following passed without any signs of the water

party. The evening of the next, Charlotte had promised to meet her lover.

It came, but brought no Charlotte! Miserable was the state of Richard's feelings. He sent to her father's to inquire for her.

She had not yet returned-they had been expecting her in vain. every moment during the last four-and-twenty hours. They could not account for her absence.

There was a tavern in George's-street, at that time, whither the young bloods of the town were in the habit of resorting, to pass their evenings. Richard had been too frequently a visiter; but for the last two days he had absented himself-now, however, he went there. He was welcomed cordially, but at the same time in a manner that convinced him he was the object of commiseration. He threw himself into a chair; now glancing at one, and then at another. One of the party, at length, accosted him.

"Richard," said he, "we see too plainly how it is. Old Jack," as Charlotte's uncle was generally cailed, "has out-manoeuvred you. His mate has discovered all to Tomkins's butler, who was down at the ship drinking with him. That party was planned between him and his captain, in order to give the young sailor an opportunity of ingratiating himself with your mistress-nay, in the hope that she might be brought to yield to the united instances of lover and uncle, and consent to return a bride to Cork."

Richard started, and glared upon the speaker.

66

"It is true," the other resumed; you may hear it from the lips of the man himself; and, to do them justice, they deserve credit for their cleverness. No opportunity for courting, like a trip on ship-board, where people must keep together in spite of themselves-morning, noon, and night. But never give way to despondency, man! If she is worthy of you, you are sure of her, though she were gone a voyage to the Indies; if she is not, better you lose her now than hereafter. I have been in love myself, and on such occasions, always made up my mind to that. Once disabused of the impression that the object was worthy, I speedily reconciled myself to the loss. Do you the like, in case the girl should jilt you. If her heart is capable of being estranged from you, it is not worth retaining. Come, Richard, cheer up, man! It is long since we have had a bowl together-your only social potation, which brings good fellows, as it were, into a knot. There is no thorough brotherhood in independent tumblers; one sips a thimbleful, another swallows a bumper-one drinks twice to another man's once! A bowl is glass for glass and equal measure."

Richard's soul was dead within him-the bowl was resuscitation. At first the cordial liquid produced no more effect upon him than water-but presently came the glow, and the glow waxed stronger and stronger, till those false spirits were at last induced, which, once they get the upper hand, no longer leave a man the use of his reason. Glass rapidly followed glass, bowl succeeded to bowl, and Richard almost in a state of collapse from perfect inebriety, was at last carried home.

Two friends, remarkable for what topers call a hard head, undertook the charge of escorting him. Just as they reached his house, a fe

male, enveloped in a cloak and hood, was in the act of leaving it. She stopped short as they passed her, earnestly scrutinized their burden, and uttering a half-suppressed exclamation, expressive of dismay and suffering, hurried on.

It was Charlotte! The story of the plot was true: three days had her uncle kept her out in the yacht-three days had she suffered indefatigable persecution from her uncle and his friend; but what is a world of opportunity without a particle of inclination to work upon? The moment Charlotte became aware of their stratagem, one only answer did she return to reasonings and entreaties

"Take me back to Cork!"

Perseverance tried another day-yet another; but finding that, instead of gaining ground, it was rather losing it, at length gave in. The yacht was put about, and reached her usual anchorage at nightfall. The quay was gained at ten o'clock; but late as it was, the faithful Charlotte had no sooner stepped on shore, then casting away every consideration, except that of her lover's feelings, she went to his residenceasked for him-was informed he was from home, and, departing, encountered him as I have described.

But she was not the only person by whom his disgraceful plight, had been observed. Her uncle, guessing her intentions, had followed her. His way lay up George's-street. Just as he approached the tavern, the two friends, with Richard between them, issued from it. He knew that the house was frequented by Richard, whose habits of occasional excess were well known to him.

"Could it be Richard whom they supported?"

He slackened his pace-followed them-caught sight of his nieceobserved her stop-perceived that she recognised her lover, and waiting till she came up, confronted her-caught hold of her hand, and bade her turn and observe what was passing behind her. Overpowered with shame, she hung her head and stood speechless.

"Come," said her uncle, " this affair becomes too serious to allow the indulgence of false delicacy! You must make up your mind whether you will marry a brute or a man. Till the end of next week you shall reflect upon it. In the mean time, no assignations !-no meetings! You must keep the house close till then. Then you shall give your hand to the one or the other! I shall speak to your father this very night!"

Charlotte retired to her chamber. The brothers remained alone for an hour in earnest conversation. The uncle prevailed.

"Well, John," said the father, "I consent. It shall be as you would have it. At the end of next week she shall marry which of the two she pleases; but I tell you beforehand that I know too well on which her choice will fall!"

"The girl is not mad, brother Anthony!" replied the uncle. tell you that you have done right in following my advice, and you will find it so. It is the nature of women to act contrariwise. By continuing to oppose the girl, you help her to keep her resolution. She sees nothing now but the bar to her union with this profligate young That engrosses all her thoughts, to the utter oblivion of conse

man.

quences.

Take it away, and the latter will present themselves to her

and no doubt with due effect. Whether or not, the girl must not be killed! You, who see her every day, take no notice of the effects which her present position with this man is producing upon her! I tell you what, brother Anthony, I have been only a twelvemonth away, and I scarcely knew my niece! Another twelvemonth must not be passed in the same manner, unless you are desirous that she should furnish employment for the undertaker. The only proper course is that which I have recommended, and that which you have at last consented to adopt. By making the girl mistress of her own destiny in this affair, you will cause her to reflect upon what she is about. I think she will decide rightly; for otherwise what can she see before her but misery? If she marries my young friend, all's well ; if the other, better that, than that her death should lie at your door. Good-night, brother Anthony!"

For the greater portion of the stipulated time did Charlotte keep the house, never once stirring from her own room. Her new lover was a constant visiter. His presence was always announced to her, but she evinced no desire to avail herself of it. One day more, and the period given her for reflection would expire.

Tenderly did Richard love his mistress, notwithstanding his bestting and brutalizing sin. What he had told her was the simple truth. He had never been guilty of the slightest breach of fidelity towards her. When he came to himself the morning after his debauch, his first inquiry was, if Charlotte had returned?

"Called!" echoed Richard, now greatly excited.

repeated-" Where?"

"At the house."

"Called!" he

"At this house? Charlotte call here! Dear generous girl! To explain the cause of her absence no doubt ! To set my tortured heart at rest!—and I—when did she call?"

"Last night."

"What hour?"

"About eleven o'clock. A moment or two before you were brought home by your friends."

Richard, pallid enough before, now became still more so, while a deep shade of trouble gathered upon his brow. He seemed as if conjecturing something that filled his heart with the liveliest alarms. At length he spoke.

"Did she know me ?" falteringly inquired he.

"I fear that she did. I was still standing with the door in my hand after her, when you and your friends approached. She stopped short as you passed her. I saw her clasp her hands, and then she hurried

on."

"Was she accompanied ?"

"No; but, after she passed on, she was met by a person who seemed to be watching her, and by whom, as soon as she came up to him, she was hurried away."