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Rh only cultivated at intervals, and his mimic frigate remained unfinished. Every day, too, the music of Marion's laugh grew more unfrequent in the house; she loathed her food, and, instead of the restless, dancing steps, that seemed never quiet but in sleep, she would creep to the knee of her father, and sit for hours with her languid head resting on his shoulder. Mr. Selwyn had long felt what Dr. Irvine now confirmed, and for him there was but the choice of parting with his children to England, or to the grave. Now, for months and months to come his hearth would be desolate, long solitary evenings, uncheered by the sweet companions now far away, no little hand eagerly put into his for his now solitary walk, and worse than all, strangers would be winning the affections and guiding the youthful hearts hitherto so entirely his own.

Mr. Selwyn had married young, and poor, and the early years of his married life had been embittered by struggles which it was his great hope that he might spare his children. Gradually he had risen to the important situation he now held in Ceylon. Wealth he had accumulated; and, under Providence, Francis could never know the same difficulties which had embittered so large a portion