Mr. M'Loughlin, for that untoward transaction--to be sure, I wish
your daughter had been a little more prudent, but young ladies cannot,
or at least, do not always regulate their passions or attachments; and
so, when they make a false step, they must suffer for it. As for myself,
I can only express my sincere regret that the _faux pas_ happened, and
that it should have got wind in such a way as to deprive the poor girl
of her character."

After contemplating the father and son for some time alternately, with
a look in which was visible the most withering contempt and scorn, and
which made them both quail before him, he replied:

"Your falsehood, scoundrels, is as vindictive as it is cowardly, and you
both know it; but I am an honest man, and I feel to stoop to a defence
of my virtuous child against either of you, would be a degradation to
her as well as to myself. I therefore go, leaving you my contempt and
scorn, I could almost say my pity."

He then walked out, neither father nor son having thought it prudent to
brave the expression of his eye by replying to his words.

"Now," said Val, addressing Solomon, "let there be an execution issued
without a moment's delay--the man is doomed, his hour has come; and
so, may I never prosper, if I don't scatter him and his, houseless and
homeless, to the four corners of heaven! I have meshed him at last, and
now for vengeance."

"But," said Solomon, in a tone of slight remonstrance, "I trust, my dear
M'Clutchy, that,in taking vengeance upon this man and his family, you
will do so in a proper spirit, and guard against the imputations of an
uncharitable world. When you take vengeance, let your motives be always
pure and upright and even charitable--of course you expect and hope
that you ruin this man and his; family for their own spiritual good. The
affliction that you are about! to bring on them, will soften and subdue
their hard and obstinate hearts, and lead them it is to be hoped, to a
better and more Christian state of feeling. May He grant it!"

"Of course," replied Val, humoring him in his hypocrisy, "of course it
is from these motives I act; certainly it is."

"In that case," said Solomon, "I am bound to acknowledge that I never
have heard a man vow vengeance, or express a determination to ruin his
fellow creature, upon more delightfully Christian principles. It is a
great privilege, indeed, to be able to ruin a whole family in such a
blessed spirit, I have no doubt