A man with the charges of a family on him, little pay, and no fortune, is driven to a thousand follies to hide his misery.

You do not strengthen your case by reminding me of _that_ imprudence.

But, Mildred, I do not tell you to cut adrift this young Virginian, for he may he of use in more ways than one.

In the first place, you can play him off against Mr.Thomas Wychecombe; and, in the second place, a lieutenant is likely, one day, to be a captain; and the wife of a captain in His Majesty's navy, is no disreputable birth.

I advise you, girl, to use this youngster as a bait to catch the heir with; and, failing a good bite, to take up with the lad himself." This was said dogmatically, but with a coarseness of manner that fully corresponded with the looseness of the principles, and the utter want of delicacy of feeling that alone could prompt such advice.