xious
to calm the feelings of the poor man, though I was scarcely surprised to
hear him speak as he did.

"Is that you, Burton?" he said, hearing my voice. "They tell me that we
have been shipmates before, and that I was on board the ship when you
were born; but I don't remember the circumstance."

"I have been told so," I said, "and the man steering, Toby Kiddle,
remembers you."

"Ah! Yes, I think I have an idea of your mother--a pretty woman. Where
is she now?" And I told him that she was living with Mrs and the
Misses Schank, and I added, "There is another sister--a Mrs Lindars,
whose husband deserted her."

"Mrs Lindars?" he said slowly, "and is she still alive?"

"Yes," I answered, rather astonished at the question.

"I have been saved another crime!" he muttered between his teeth. He
was silent for some minutes. Then he abruptly addressed me. "Burton, I
believe I am dying. I should like to make a clear bosom before I go out
of the world. A viler wretch than I am has never been borne shrieking
through the air by demons to the place of torment. You speak of Mrs
Lindars. She is my wife, for that is my real name. I have borne many
since then. I was young then, and so was she--very young and very
beautiful, I thought. I wished to run away with her, but she would not
consent, and we married. At first I thought I could settle down in the
country, and support myself by my literary and musical talents. I soon
found that this would not bring me a sufficient income to supply my
wants, for I had somewhat luxurious tastes. My wife gave birth to a
child--a daughter. She was a sweet little creature. I loved her in a
way I never loved anything before. Each year she increased in beauty.
At length I had an opportunity of obtaining a large sum by committing a
crime. A fearful crime it was, and yet I did not hesitate. It was
necessary to fly the country. I could not bear the thoughts of leaving
my child behind me. It was a cruel act to desert my wife, and still
more cruel to carry away the child, for I knew that her mother loved her
as much as I did. My wife was ill, and I pretended to take the child to
see a relation, from whom I told her I had expectations. I knew she
could not follow me. Changing my name, I crossed to France where I had
relations. I never cared for gambling, or I should probably quickly
have got through my ill-acquired wealth. I had followed the sea during
the early part of my l