to-day, when he
stated his dislike to privateering from conscientious motives than he
did after his return from his confinement in the Tower, when he gave
up the command of the privateer on those very grounds; and then, when
still warm with gratitude to him for his self-devotion, you did not
consider it an insult, but, on the contrary, took him still nearer to
you into your own house. Why, then, should you consider it an insult
now? Neither can I see any ingratitude. You made him an offer, the
value of which, in a worldly point of view, he could not but
appreciate, and he declined it from conscientious motives; declined
it, as you acknowledge, respectfully; proving that he was ready to
sacrifice his worldly interests to what he considered his duty as a
Christian. When Mr. Elrington told me that you had dismissed him, I
felt so certain that he must have been guilty of some unpardonable
conduct towards you to have induced you to have resorted to such a
step, that I did not credit him when he asserted the contrary. I could
not believe, as a daughter, any thing so much to the prejudice of my
own father, and so much at variance with his general conduct. I now
feel that I have been most unjust to Mr. Elrington, and conducted
myself towards him in a way which I bitterly regret, and hope by some
means to be able to express my contrition for--"

"Amy--Amy," said Mr. Trevannion, severely, "are you blinded by regard
for this young man, that you side against your own father? Am I to
understand that you have given your affections without my sanction or
approval?"

"No, Sir," replied Miss Trevannion; "that I do respect and regard Mr.
Elrington is true, and I cannot do otherwise for his many good
qualities and his devotion towards you; but if you would ask me if I
love him, I reply that such a thought has not yet entered my head.
Without a knowledge of who he is, or his family, and without your
approval, I should never think of yielding up my affections in so
hasty a manner; but I may say more: these affections have never been
solicited by Mr. Elrington. He has always behaved towards me with that
respect, which, as the daughter of his patron, I have had a right to
expect; but in no instance has he ever signified to me that he had any
preference in my favour. Having assured you of this, my dear father, I
cannot but say that I consider that he has, in this instance, not only
been treated with injustice by you, but also by me."

"Sa