“My mother! what, have they met since?”

“Yes; your mother went out to India on speculation, passing off as a single girl, and was very well married there, I was going to say; however, she committed a very splendid bigamy.”

“Good heavens! how totally destitute of principle!”

“Your father asserts that your mother was a freethinker, Japhet; her father had made her one; without religion a woman has no stay.  Your father was in the up country during the time that your mother arrived, and was married to one of the council of Calcutta.  Your father says that they met at a ball at Government House.  She was still a very handsome woman, and much admired.  When your father recognised her, and was told that she was lately married to the honourable Mr—­, he was quite electrified, and would have quitted the room; but she had perceived him, and walking up to him with the greatest coolness, claimed him as an old acquaintance in England, and afterwards they often met, but she never adverted to what had passed between them, until the time for his departure to England on leave, and she then sent for him, and begged that he would make some enquiries after you, Japhet.  He did so, and you know the result.  On his return to India he found that your mother had been carried off by the prevailing pestilence.  At that period, your father was not rich, but he was then appointed to the chief command in the Carnatic, and reaped a golden harvest in return for his success and bravery.  It appears, as far as I could obtain it from him, that as long as your mother was alive, he felt no interest about you, but her death, and the subsequent wealth which poured upon him, have now induced him to find out an heir, to whom it may be bequeathed.

“Such, Japhet, are the outlines of your father’s history; and I must point out that he has no feelings of affection for you at present.  The conduct of your mother is ever before him, and if it were not that he wishes an heir, I should almost say that his feelings are those of dislike.  You may create an interest in his heart, it is true:  and he may be gratified by your personal appearance; but you will have a very difficult task, as you will have to submit to his caprices and fancies, and I am afraid that, to a high spirit like yours, they will be almost unbearable.”

“Really, sir, I begin to feel that the fondest anticipations are seldom realised, and almost to wish that I had not been sought for by my father.  I was happy and contented, and now I do not see any chance of having to congratulate myself on the change.”

“On one or two points I also wish to question you.  It appears that you have entered into the sect denominated Quakers.  Tell me candidly, do you subscribe heartily and sincerely to their doctrines?  And I was going to add, is it your intention to remain with them?  I perceive much difficulty in all this.”