e; and in so doing I do you no injustice, nor do I swerve in my
fidelity."

"How do you know that? I may have my secret reasons against it."

"Surely you can have no interest in a soldier's brat, Melchior?"

Melchior appeared confused and annoyed. "She is no soldier's brat; I
acknowledge, Japhet, that the child was stolen; but you must not,
therefore, imply that the child was stolen by me or by my wife."

"I never accused you, or thought you capable of it; and that is the
reason why I am now surprised at the interest you take in her. If she
prefers to go with you, I have no more to say, but if not, I claim her;
and if she consents, will resist your interference."

"Japhet," replied Melchior, after a pause, "we must not quarrel now that
we are about to part. I will give you an answer in half an hour."

Melchior returned to Nattee, and re-commenced a conversation with her,
while I hastened to Fleta.

"Fleta, do you know that the camp is to be broken up, and Melchior and
Nattee leave it together?"

"Indeed!" replied she, with surprise. "Then what is to become of you and
Timothy?"

"We must of course seek our fortunes where we can."

"And of me?" continued she, looking me earnestly in the face with her
large blue eyes. "Am I to stay here?" continued she, with alarm in her
countenance.

"Not if you do not wish it, Fleta; as long as I can support you I
will--that is, if you would like to live with me in preference to
Melchior."

"If I would like, Japhet; you must know I would like--who has been so
kind to me as you? Don't leave me, Japhet."

"I will not, Fleta; but on condition that you promise to be guided by
me, and to do all I wish."

"To do what you wish is the greatest pleasure that I have, Japhet--so I
may safely promise that. What has happened?"

"That I do not know more than yourself; but Melchior tells me that he
and Nattee quit the gipsy tents for ever."

Fleta looked round to ascertain if any one was near us, and then in a
low tone said, "I understand their language, Japhet, that is, a great
deal of it, although they do not think so, and I overheard what the
gipsy said in part, although he was at some distance. He asked for
Melchior; and when Nattee wanted to know what he wanted, he answered
that, '_he_ was dead;' then Nattee covered up her face. I could not hear
all the rest, but there was something about a _horse_."

_He_ was _dead_. Had then Melchior committed murder, and was obliged to
fly