She had been left a widow in India, and only reached her native land to breathe her last in my arms.

You will be pleased, I think, with her daughter, though, on second thought, perhaps, she may not be quite lively enough for you; however, I must beg your notice for her, as her attachment to her brother is so excessive, that all relating to the sea is to her in the highest degree interesting." "And do your sister's children live with you--had their father no relations ?" "None; and even if he had, I should have petitioned to bring them up and adopt them as my own.

Poor children, when their mother died, their situation was indeed melancholy.

Helpless orphans of ten and scarcely twelve, cast on a strange land, without one single friend to whom they could look for succour or protection.

My heart bled for them, and never once have I regretted my decision." The old man looked at her glowing cheek in admiration, and pressing her hand, he said warmly, prefacing his words, as he always did, with the affirmative "ay, ay." "Your father's daughter must be somewhat different to others of her rank.