,« said I, »and I knew the circumstance would be called
unusual. But you are to consider how very unusual the whole business was from
the beginning. Here is a young lady landed on the coast of Europe with two
shillings and a penny-halfpenny. She is directed to yon man Sprott in Helvoet. I
hear you call him your agent. All I can say is he could do nothing but damn and
swear at the mere mention of your name, and I must fee him out of my own pocket
even to receive the custody of her effects. You speak of unusual circumstances,
Mr. Drummond, if that be the name you prefer. Here was a circumstance, if you
like, to which it was barbarity to have exposed her.«
    »But this is what I cannot understand the least,« said James. »My daughter
was placed into the charge of some responsible persons, whose names I have
forgot.«
    »Gebbie was the name,« said I; »and there is no doubt that Mr. Gebbie should
have gone ashore with her at Helvoet. But he did not, Mr. Drummond; and I think
you might praise God that I was there to offer in his place.«
    »I shall have a word to say to Mr. Gebbie before long,« said he. »As for
yourself, I think it might have occurred that you were somewhat young for such a
post.«
    »But the choice was not between me and somebody else, it was between me and
nobody,« I cried. »Nobody offered in my place, and I must say I think you show a
very small degree of gratitude to me that did.«
    »I shall wait until I understand my obligation a little more in the
particular,« says he.
    »Indeed, and I think it stares you in the face, then,« said I. »Your child
was deserted, she was clean flung away in the midst of Europe, with scarce two
shillings, and not two words of any language spoken there: I must say, a bonny
business! I brought her to this place. I gave her the name and the tenderness
due to a sister. All this has not gone without expense, but that I scarce need
to hint at. They were services due to the young lady's character which I
respect; and I think it would be a bonny business too, if I was to be singing
her praises to her father.«
    »You are a young man,« he began.
    »So I hear
