ot choose to join me from conscientious scruples, I cannot
but imagine that you do not like to serve me from similar motives, for
I see little difference between the two (and here, Madam, there was
some force in his observation, but it never occurred to me before); at
all events, without weighing your scruples so exactly as to know how
far they may or may not extend, I feel that we are not likely to go on
pleasantly together. I shall always think that I am reproached by you
when any thing is said connected with the privateers--and you may have
twinges of conscience which may be disagreeable to you. Let us,
therefore, part quietly. For your services up to the present, and to
assist you in any other engagements you may enter on, take this--"

Mr. Trevannion opened a lower drawer of the table, and put before me a
bag containing, as I afterwards discovered, 250 gold jacobuses.

"I wish you well, Mr. Elrington, but I sincerely wish that we had
never met."

Mr. Trevannion then rose abruptly, and, before I could make any reply,
brushed past me, went out at the door, and again walked away at a
rapid pace down the street. I remained where I stood; my eyes had
followed him as he went away. I was completely surprised. I
anticipated much anger, much altercation; but I never had an idea that
he would be so unjust as to throw off in this way one who for his sake
had gone through a heavy trial and come out with honour. My heart was
full of bitterness. I felt that Mr. Trevannion had treated me with
harshness and ingratitude.

"Alas!" thought I, "such is the world, and such will ever be the case
with such imperfect beings as we are. How vain to expect any thing
like consistency, much less perfection, in our erring natures. Hurt
but the self-love of a man, wound his vanity, and all obligations are
forgotten."

I turned away from the bag of money, which I was resolved not to
accept, although I had not at the time twenty guineas at my own
disposal. It was now within half an hour of dark; I collected all my
books, put some in the iron safe, others as usual in my desk, and
having arranged every thing as completely as I could, I locked the
safe, and inclosed the keys in a parcel, which I sealed. Putting Mr.
Trevannion's name on the outside, I laid the parcel on the table in
the room where we had had our conference, by the side of the bag of
money.

It was now dark, or nearly so, and leaving the confidential porter, as
usual, to shut u