ly married to the honourable Mr --, he was
quite electrified, and would have quitted the room; but she had
perceived him, and walking up to him with the greatest coolness, claimed
him as an old acquaintance in England, and afterwards they often met,
but she never adverted to what had passed between them, until the time
for his departure to England on leave, and she then sent for him, and
begged that he would make some inquiries after you, Japhet. He did so,
and you know the result. On his return to India he found that your
mother had been carried off by the prevailing pestilence. At that
period, your father was not rich, but he was then appointed to the chief
command in the Carnatic, and reaped a golden harvest in return for his
success and bravery. It appears, as far as I could obtain it from him,
that as long as your mother was alive, he felt no interest about you;
but her death, and the subsequent wealth which poured upon him, have now
induced him to find out an heir, to whom it may be bequeathed.

"Such, Japhet, are the outlines of your father's history; and I must
point out that he has no feelings of affection for you at present. The
conduct of your mother is ever before him, and if it were not that he
wishes an heir, I should almost say that his feelings are those of
dislike. You may create an interest in his heart, it is true: and he
may be gratified by your personal appearance; but you will have a very
difficult task, as you will have to submit to his caprices and fancies,
and I am afraid that, to a high spirit like yours, they will be almost
unbearable."

"Really, sir, I begin to feel that the fondest anticipations are seldom
realised, and almost to wish that I had not been sought for by my
father. I was happy and contented, and now I do not see any chance of
having to congratulate myself on the change."

"On one or two points I also wish to question you. It appears that you
have entered into the sect denominated Quakers. Tell me candidly, do
you subscribe heartily and sincerely to their doctrines? And I was
going to add, is it your intention to remain with them? I perceive much
difficulty in all this."

"The tenets of the sect I certainly do believe to be more in accordance
with the Christian religion than any other; and I have no hesitation in
asserting, from my knowledge of those who belong to this sect, that
they, generally speaking, lead better lives. There are some points
connected with th