thatched, white-washed huts, a little
way off, before which was collected a group of negroes, men, and women,
and children, laughing, shouting, and talking, looking wonderfully
happy; the former all neatly habited, and though the smaller members of
the community were not overburdened with clothing, they looked as plump
and jolly as need be. "I only wish that our peasantry in old Ireland
were as well off as these people seem to be."

"And those of England, also," said Jack. "Still slavery is an
abomination, and I pray that it may some day cease throughout the
world."

The lieutenants scarcely believed that the time they expected to be on
the road had elapsed, when their driver pointed to a wide-spreading, low
mansion, with verandahs all round it, and extensive outbuildings, and
said--

"Dere, dat Saint David's."

Somehow or other they had expected to see only a Mr and Mrs Bradshaw.
Their surprise was considerable when they met with a reception not
unlike that at Trinidad, from a matronly dame and a number of young
damsels; except that they did not claim Adair as a relation.

"We were expecting Mr Murray, and regret not seeing him, but his
brother officers are most welcome," said Mrs Bradshaw, when she had
glanced at Alick's letter.

She then introduced the two lieutenants by name to her eldest daughter
Fanny, and to her three little girls, as she called them, but though the
youngest was barely thirteen, they all looked like grown women. Adair
was quickly at home with them, answering the questions they showered on
him. Jack remained talking to Mrs Bradshaw and Fanny. He mentioned
Murray's anxiety about the O'Regans.

"I fear that he has good reason to be anxious," answered Mrs Bradshaw.
"The colonel promised to bring his daughter here long ago, and we were
expecting to see her, when we heard that he had carried her off on
another of his wild expeditions. He wrote word from Antigua that he
intended to be but a short time away, so that they may possibly arrive
in a day or two. We long to have her safe with us, for though Fanny is
the only one who knows her, as they were at a finishing school together
in England, from the account she gives we are all prepared to love her."

"Yes, indeed," exclaimed Fanny. "She was a delightful creature, the pet
and darling of the school, one of the youngest among us; and I should
never have supposed that she would have been able to go through what she
has done since."

Wh