were before him.

"Gracious powers, Mr. Warrington! This is a delight, indeed! What a
crowning mercy that your voyage should have been so prosperous! You must
have my boat to go on shore. Let me cordially and respectfully welcome
you to England: let me shake your hand as the son of my benefactress and
patroness, Mrs. Esmond Warrington, whose name is known and honoured on
Bristol 'Change, I warrant you. Isn't it, Franks?"

"There's no sweeter tobacco comes from Virginia, and no better brand than
the Three Castles," says Mr. Franks, drawing a great brass tobacco-box
from his pocket, and thrusting a quid into his jolly mouth. "You don't
know what a comfort it is, sir! you'll take to it, bless you, as you grow
older. Won't he, Mr. Trail? I wish you had ten shiploads of it instead of
one. You might have ten shiploads: I've told Madam Esmond so; I've rode
over her plantation; she treats me like a lord when I go to the house;
she don't grudge me the best of wine, or keep me cooling my heels in the
counting-room as some folks does" (with a look at Mr. Trail). "She is a
real born lady, she is; and might have a thousand hogsheads as easy as
her hundreds, if there were but hands enough."

"I have lately engaged in the Guinea trade, and could supply her ladyship
with any number of healthy young negroes before next fall," said Mr.
Trail, obsequiously.

"We are averse to the purchase of negroes from Africa," said the young
gentleman, coldly. "My grandfather and my mother have always objected to
it, and I do not like to think of selling or buying the poor wretches."

"It is for their good, my dear young sir! for their temporal and their