"Sorry!" Why should John be sorry? He was very glad, and so would Sarah be, when she heard it.
"But perhaps you will be surprised to hear that he is married?"
"Better news still," said John. "It makes me uncommonly happy to hear it."
And now, having made a sort of hero of one who became so without intending it, and in spite of himself, we here make our bow to John Tincroft, to bring him forward again after many years. Before taking this stride, however, it will be incumbent on us to leave him some little time to repose under his laurels, while we glance at the fortunes of two or more of the dramatis personæ of this history.
[CHAPTER XVII.]
HELEN.
SOME years before the occurrence of the events recorded in the former part of our narrative, Mr. Sedley, a professional gentleman, pretty well off in the world, and with a good position in society, having taken umbrage at some slight offered him in the county town where he had imagined his influence to be paramount, hastily made up his mind to leave the country.
In pursuance of this design, he first of all disposed of his practice; sold the house in which he lived, and the greater part of his furniture; went into lodgings; and then, when all these steps had been taken, began to study the science of emigration in connection with the numerous and various British colonies scattered over the face of the globe.
If Mr. Sedley had had only himself to please, the matter would have been of smaller consequence than it was. But he was a married man, and was, in sequence, the father of some half-dozen sons and daughters. Of these appendages, or encumbrances as they are sometimes called, such as were old enough to have any opinions of their own were at first rather rebellious; at least, they thought it hard to have to give up the comforts and luxuries of a genteel home in England for the uncertain prospects and advantages, and the certain toils and sacrifices, of an emigrant life.