for his approval. At first there were a few alterations
made, afterwards I wrote them fairly out, and almost invariably they
gave satisfaction, or, if anything was added, it was in a postscript.
Mr Trevannion's affairs, I found, were much more extensive than I had
imagined. He had the two privateers, two vessels on the coast of Africa
trading for ivory and gold-dust and other articles, two or three vessels
employed in trading to Virginia for tobacco and other produce, and some
smaller vessels engaged in the Newfoundland fisheries, which, when they
had taken in their cargo, ran to the Mediterranean to dispose of it, and
returned with Mediterranean produce to Liverpool. That he was a very
wealthy man, independent of his large stakes upon the seas, was certain.
He had lent much money to the guild of Liverpool, and had some tenanted
properties in the county; but of them I knew nothing, except from the
payment of the rents. What surprised me much was, that a man of Mr
Trevannion's wealth, having but one child to provide for, should not
retire from business--and I once made the remark to his daughter. Her
reply was: "I thought as you do once, but now I think differently. When
I have been on a visit with my father, and he has stayed away for
several weeks, you have no idea how restless and uneasy he has become
from want of occupation. It has become his habit, and habit is second
nature. It is not from a wish to accumulate that he continues at the
counting-house, but because he cannot be happy without employment. I,
therefore, do not any longer persuade him to leave off, as I am
convinced that it would be persuading him to be unhappy. Until you
came, I think the fatigue was too great for him; but you have, as he
apprises me, relieved him of the heaviest portion of the labour, and I
hardly need say that I am rejoiced that you have so done."

"It certainly is not that he requires to make money, Miss Trevannion;
and, as he is so liberal in everything, I must credit what you assert,
that it is the dislike to having no employment which induces him to
continue in business. It has not yet become such a habit in me,"
continued I, smiling; "I think I could leave it off with great
pleasure."

"But is not that because you have not yet recovered from your former
habits, which were so at variance with a quiet and a sedentary life?"
replied she.

"I fear it is so," said I, "and I believe, of all habits, those of a
vagrant are t