to providing for his family!"

Newton paused a little, to allow the colonel's wrath to subside, and
then observed--"I never was so much distressed as to be the bearer of
your message. The young ladies are certainly no parties to their
father's dishonesty, and are in a situation much to be pitied. In a
foreign country, thousands of miles from their friends, without means of
subsistence, or of paying their passage home. What is to become of
them?"

"I don't care."

"That your indignation is just, Colonel Revel, I admit;--but allowing
that you will not receive them, how are they to return home? Captain
Drawlock, I am sure, would give them a passage; but we proceed to China.
Poor girls!" continued Newton, with a sigh. "I should like to make a
remark, Colonel Revel, if it were not considered too great a liberty in
a stranger."

"You have already taken a liberty, which in all probability has saved my
life. I shall be happy to listen to any remark that you may wish to
offer."

"It was, sir, that reprehensible as their father's conduct may be,
common humanity, and a regard for your own character, will hardly
warrant their being left thus destitute. They at least are your
relations, and have neither offended nor deceived you; on the contrary,
are, with you, joint victims of their father's deception."

"You appear to take a great interest in these young ladies," observed
the colonel, sharply.

"If I had never seen them, sir, their present unfortunate dilemma would
be sufficient. Knowing them intimately as I do, I must say, that this
intelligence will be to one; at least, a death-blow. I would to God
that I were able to assist and to protect her!"

"Very handsome then I presume?" replied the colonel, with a sneer.

"She certainly is, sir; but it was not admiration of her beauty which
occasioned the remark. If you knew her, sir, you would be as sorry to
part with her, as you now appear to be to receive her."

The colonel continued to pace the room, but with less violence than
before. Newton observed this, and therefore was silent, hoping that
reflection would induce him to alter his resolution. In a few minutes,
apparently forgetting the presence of Newton, the colonel commenced
talking to himself aloud, muttering out the following detached phrases:

"Must take them in by God! Couldn't show my face--nowhere--damned
scoundrel! Keep them here till next ship--till they are as yellow as
gamboge, then send th