that I gave my cheerful promise: but, Melchior, you appear to have
taken, all at once, a strange interest in this little girl."

"I wish you now to think that I do take an interest in her, provided you
seek not to inquire the why and the wherefore. Will you accept of funds
for her maintenance?"

"Not without necessity compels me; and then I should be glad to find,
when I can no longer help her, that you are still her friend."

"Recollect, that you will always find what is requisite by writing to
the address which I shall give you before we part. That point is now
settled, and on the whole I think the arrangement is good."

Timothy had been absent during the events of the morning--when he
returned, I communicated to him what had passed, and was about to take
place.

"Well, Japhet, I don't know--I do not dislike our present life, yet I am
not sorry to change it; but what are we to do?"

"That remains to be considered; we have a good stock of money,
fortunately, and we must husband it till we find what can be done."

We took our suppers all together for the last time, Melchior telling us
that he had determined to set off the next day. Nattee looked very
melancholy, but resigned; on the contrary, little Fleta was so
overjoyed, that her face, generally so mournful, was illuminated with
smiles whenever our eyes met. It was delightful to see her so happy. The
whole of the people in the camp had retired, and Melchior was busy
making his arrangements in the tent. I did not feel inclined to sleep; I
was thinking and revolving in my mind my prospects for the future;
sitting, or rather lying down, for I was leaning on my elbow, at a short
distance from the tents. The night was dark but clear, and the stars
were brilliant. I had been watching them, and I thought upon Melchior's
ideas of destiny, and dwelling on the futile wish that I could read
mine, when I perceived the approach of Nattee.

"Japhet," said she, "you are to take the little girl with you, I
find--will you be careful of her? for it would be on my conscience if
she were left to the mercy of the world. She departs rejoicing, let not
her joy end in tears. I depart sorrowing. I leave my people, my kin, my
habits, and customs, my influence, all--but it must be so, it is my
destiny. She is a good child, Japhet--promise me that you will be a
friend to her--and give her this to wear in remembrance of me, but--not
yet--not till we are gone--." She hesitated. "Japhet, d