ent, constantly in society, and
constantly in requisition, he had grown old without being aware of it,
and considered himself as much an object of interest with the other sex
as he was formerly when a gay captain of five-and-twenty, with good
prospects. Amusing and easily amused, he had turned over the pages of
the novel of life so uninterruptedly, that he had nearly arrived at the
last page without being conscious that the finis was at hand.

Then there were two cadets from the college, full of themselves and
their own consequence, fitted out with plenty of money and plenty of
advice, both of which were destined to be thrown away. There was also a
young writer, who talked of his mother Lady Elizabeth, and other high
relations, who had despatched him to India, that he might be provided
for by a cholera morbus or a lucrative post; a matter of perfect
indifference to those who had sent him from England. Then, let me see,
oh! there were two officers of a regiment at St. Helena, with tongues
much longer than their purses; who in the forepart of the day
condescended to talk nonsense to the fairer of the other sex, and in the
evening to win a few pounds from the weaker of their own.

But all these were nobodies in the eyes of Captain. Drawlock; they were
a part of his cargo, for which he was not responsible. The important
part of his consignment were four unmarried women; three of them were
young, good-looking, and poor; the other ill-favoured, old, but rich.

We must give precedence to wealth and age. The lady last mentioned was
a Miss Tavistock, born and educated in the city, where her father had
long been at the head of the well-established firm of Tavistock,
Bottlecock, and Company, Dyers, Callenderers, and Scourers. As we
before observed, she was the fortunate sole heiress to her father's
accumulation, which might amount to nearly thirty thousand pounds; but
had been little gifted by nature. In fact, she was what you may style
most preposterously ugly; her figure was large and masculine; her hair
red; and her face very deeply indented with the small pox. As a man,
she would have been considered the essence of vulgarity; as a woman she
was the quintessence: so much so, that she had arrived at the age of
thirty-six without having, notwithstanding her property, received any
attentions which could be construed into an offer. As we always seek
most eagerly that which we find most difficult to obtain, she was
posse