e proper person to assist
her, and no doubt he would be as willing as able.

The marks of dubiousness and indecision which accompanied these words
encouraged me in endeavouring to subdue his scruples. The increase of
his aversion to my scheme kept pace with my remonstrances, and he
finally declared that he would, on no account, consent to it.

Ellis was by no means hard of heart. His determination did not prove the
coldness of his charity, but merely the strength of his fears. He was
himself an object more of compassion than of anger; and he acted like
the man whose fear of death prompts him to push his companion from the
plank which saved him from drowning, but which is unable to sustain
both. Finding him invincible to my entreaties, I thought upon the
expedient which he suggested of seeking the protection of her uncle. It
was true that the loss of parents had rendered her uncle her legal
protector. His knowledge of the world; his house and property and
influence, would, perhaps, fit him for this office in a more eminent
degree than I was fitted. To seek a different asylum might, indeed, be
unjust to both; and, after some reflection, I not only dismissed the
regret which Ellis's refusal had given me, but even thanked him for the
intelligence and counsel which he had afforded me. I took leave of him,
and hastened back to Hadwin's.

Eliza, by Caleb's report, was still asleep. There was no urgent
necessity for awakening her; but something was forthwith to be done with
regard to the unhappy girl that was dead. The proceeding incumbent on us
was obvious. All that remained was to dig a grave, and to deposit the
remains with as much solemnity and decency as the time would permit.
There were two methods of doing this. I might wait till the next day;
till a coffin could be made and conveyed hither; till the woman, whose
trade it was to make and put on the habiliments assigned by custom to
the dead, could be sought out and hired to attend; till kindred,
friends, and neighbours could be summoned to the obsequies; till a
carriage were provided to remove the body to a burying-ground, belonging
to a meeting-house, and five miles distant; till those whose trade it
was to dig graves had prepared one, within the sacred enclosure, for her
reception; or, neglecting this toilsome, tedious, and expensive
ceremonial, I might seek the grave of Hadwin, and lay the daughter by
the side of her parent.

Perhaps I was strong in my preference