uare.

"My dear," said the Colonel, "I have two rather amusing things to lay
before you this evening. One is a gift from the Dey, the other is a
letter. Which will you have first?"

"The gift, of course," replied the lady.

"Let her come in, Ali," called the Colonel to his interpreter, who stood
in the passage outside.

Rais Ali, a Moor clad in the usual Turkish garb, but with a red fez or
skull-cap on his head instead of a turban, threw open the door leading
out of the court, and ushered in poor Paulina Ruffini with her child.

"Is _this_ the Dey's gift?" asked the astonished lady, rising hurriedly.

"It is; at least she is lent to us, and we are bound to accept her.--
Address her in French, my dear; she does not understand English. In
fact, you'd better take her to your own room and have a talk."

Mrs Langley addressed to the poor captive a few reassuring words, and
led her away, leaving the Colonel to amuse himself with Agnes.

"What has she been sent to us for?" asked Agnes.

"To be a serv--a companion to you and baby, my pet."

"That was kind of the Dey, wasn't it?" said the child.

"Well--ye-es; oh yes, doubtless, it was very kind of him," replied the
Colonel.

We fear that the Colonel did not fully appreciate the kindness that
resulted in the gift either of Paulina Ruffini as his servant, or of
Sidi Hassan as his attendant, for he saw clearly that the former was
unaccustomed to menial work, and he knew that Sidi Hassan was a
turbulent member of the community. However, being a man of prompt
action, and knowing that it was of the utmost importance that he should
stand well in the good graces of the Dey, he resolved to receive Paulina
into his establishment as governess of the nursery and companion to his
wife, and to leave Sidi Hassan very much to the freedom of his own will,
so long as that will did not interfere with the interests of the
consulate.

On the return of his wife he listened to her pathetic account of
Paulina's sad history, and then produced the letter to which he had
referred on first entering.

"This letter necessitates my riding into town immediately. It is a
curious document in its way, therefore lend me your ear."

Opening it he began to read. We give it _verbatim et literatim_:--

"_To the brittish Cownsul algeers_.

"7 _teenth Jully_, 18--

"Sur i'm an irishman an a sailer an recked on the cost of boogia wid
six of me messmaits hoo are wel an arty tho too was