He put this so forcibly before her eyes; he represented the child's future fate as resting so much, not only on her own good conduct, but on her outward respectability, that he prevailed upon her at last; and, perhaps, one argument that he incidentally used, had as much effect on her as the rest.

"This Mr.Butler, if yet in England, may pass through our town--may visit amongst us--may hear you spoken of by a name similar to his own, and curiosity would thus induce him to seek you.

Take his name, and you will always bear an honourable index to your mutual discovery and recognition.

Besides, when you are respectable, honoured, and earning an independence, he may not be too proud to marry you.

But take your own name, avow your own history, and not only will your child be an outcast, yourself a beggar, or, at best, a menial dependant, but you lose every hope of recovering the object of your too-devoted attachment." Thus Alice was convinced.