"Henry," at length, said he, after long rubbing his temples, and twice or thrice ejaculating, "God help us!" "you have brought yourself into a situation where you will have need for all the patience and resignation you possess--Sit down,"--for I had risen with a sudden apprehension of something dreadful. "Sit down, and bear this like the man you have shown yourself to be. You remember what I once told you of Ellen's father--that he was living in a manner disgraceful to us all in London. Well, Henry, keep your seat. I wrote the other day to inquire about him from a friend in the Admiralty. You are unwell, Harry; let me ring for something for you." "For God's sake, sir," I gasped, "tell me the worst at once." "It is bad enough, Harry, but here it is:--I was informed in answer that Mr Fane had obtained the command of the tender, Gull, and had just sailed for Cherbourg." "By Heaven, it is not possible!--that wretch the father of _my_ Ellen! Oh, sir, it is impossible! it is impossible," I reiterated; "what was his christened name?" "Harry, Harry!" he exclaimed, "be calm, I beseech you, and do not drive me more distracted than I am already. Mr Fane's name was Thomas--Tom Fane. You see, my dear boy, that this is all too true. Bear it like a man, or you will make children of us both; and rather try to aid me in considering how it is to be revealed to _her_, than make yourself unfit to join in alleviating her misery. I say nothing now, Henry, about your proposals--be that as you may think fit hereafter, for such a calamity as this must alter everything; only this I conjure you to, let us not now desert the innocent girl in the time of her affliction."