e age of nineteen, is not to be passed by without a
kind consideration. I wondered if she was handsome, but supposed that
she must be, judging from the appearance of her father.

"I rarely saw my sister," Mr. Critchet continued, "after her marriage,
but I heard from her frequently; and seldom looked at the Morning Post
without seeing her name announced as having been present at a party the
night before. I did not envy her her life of dissipation, for I
preferred to secure happiness in a different course; but still I could
not help wondering how her husband managed to support such extravagance.
Too soon did I learn the secret; for one day he sought me out, and with
a gloomy brow, announced that his purpose in visiting me was to obtain
money to meet notes which were maturing.

"I did not feel surprised, and neither did I question him in regard to
his circumstances. I listened patiently to his expressions of regard,
gave him a check on my bankers for two thousand pounds, and after he
left my counting room I busied myself with my accounts, and tried to
forget an unpleasant impression that his interview had left upon my
mind. A few days after I received a note from my brother-in-law, Mr.
Follet--"

"Follet?" I cried, in surprise; "then the young man who is still held by
the commissioner is his son, and your nephew?"

Mr. Critchet gave a token of assent, and continued:--

"In which he requested a further loan to meet some pressing engagements.
I complied with the den and, although I felt that I was wronging myself
to do so. A few weeks passed, and I was unmolested; but one morning I
received a hurriedly written letter from my brother, and I saw with
grief that, it was dated Fleet Street Prison, and that he had been
arrested the night, before for debt, and now called on me in piteous
expressions to save his name from disgrace. I went to see him, and found
that his wife was unacquainted with his situation, and that she was
making preparations to have a grand party that night, at which she
expected half the notables of London. He pleaded long and earnestly, and
at length I paid the claim that was brought against him, although it
took many thousand pounds to do so.

"Three days afterwards I was visited by my sister, in company with her
boy, a young man with dark eyes and a sinister expression of
countenance, that too nearly resembled his father's to be pleasing to
me; although God knows I have tried to love the boy, and sho