ome
new atrocity. She feared to ask him in the morning whither he was
going, lest he should thrill her with the announcement of some fresh
punishment.

"I wish, Maurice, we had never come here," said she, piteously, when he
recounted to her the scene of the gaol-gang. "These unhappy men will do
you some frightful injury one of these days."

"Stuff!" said her husband. "They've not the courage. I'd take the best
man among them, and dare him to touch me."

"I cannot think how you like to witness so much misery and villainy. It
is horrible to think of."

"Our tastes differ, my dear.--Jenkins! Confound you! Jenkins, I say."
The convict-servant entered. "Where is the charge-book? I've told you
always to have it ready for me. Why don't you do as you are told? You
idle, lazy scoundrel! I suppose you were yarning in the cookhouse, or--"

"If you please, sir."

"Don't answer me, sir. Give me the book." Taking it and running his
finger down the leaves, he commented on the list of offences to which he
would be called upon in the morning to mete out judgment.

"Meer-a-seek, having a pipe--the rascally Hindoo scoundrel!--Benjamin
Pellett, having fat in his possession. Miles Byrne, not walking fast
enough.--We must enliven Mr. Byrne. Thomas Twist, having a pipe and
striking a light. W. Barnes, not in place at muster; says he was
'washing himself'--I'll wash him! John Richards, missing muster and
insolence. John Gateby, insolence and insubordination. James Hopkins,
insolence and foul language. Rufus Dawes, gross insolence, refusing to
work.--Ah! we must look after you. You are a parson's man now, are you?
I'll break your spirit, my man, or I'll--Sylvia!"

"Yes."

"Your friend Dawes is doing credit to his bringing up."

"What do you mean?"

"That infernal villain and reprobate, Dawes. He is fitting himself
faster for--" She interrupted him. "Maurice, I wish you would not use
such language. You know I dislike it." She spoke coldly and sadly,
as one who knows that remonstrance is vain, and is yet constrained to
remonstrate.

"Oh, dear! My Lady Proper! can't bear to hear her husband swear. How
refined we're getting!"

"There, I did not mean to annoy you," said she, wearily. "Don't let us
quarrel, for goodness' sake."

He went away noisily, and she sat looking at the carpet wearily. A noise
roused her. She looked up and saw North. Her face beamed instantly. "Ah!
Mr. North, I did not expect you. What brings you here? You'l