206 TOM Bellamy's adventuue. 



he). I am exceedingly distressed at having to impart to you Ihis 

 infonnation, but consider it my duty, as a parent; the time fixed is 

 eleven o'clock. Your attention to this, of course, is immediately 

 necessary. Your friend, and that of your undutiful daughter. — X."] 

 The old gentleman, during the reading of this epistle, took off his 

 glasses, rubbed them savagely, gloomily responded to his health 

 being drank, and then finished the communication. With great 

 difliculty gathering his thoughts together, he politely informed the 

 company tliat urgent business required his immediate departure. 

 After various regrets, requests, and expostulations, he got off; hurried 

 home, and getting his old sei-vant, Jacob, to attend him, to whom 

 he explained the matter, he made the best of his way to the three 

 oaks. Well, just at the time that my Julia had informed me that the 

 'inimy had been firing into me,' up came old Springbok, her 

 father, and his servant, Jacob. * So, then, it is true,' exclaimed he, 

 in tones strongly altered by wine and emotion. * Mr. Bellamy, 

 this, sir, is not the conduct of a gentleman. Julia ! Julia ! I cannot 

 believe my eyes ; you, whom I so fondly loved, thus, in my declining 

 years, to desert me, and seek another home; 'tis base ingratitude ! 

 return immediately with me, arid seek through future obedience to 

 my commands, to regain my lost love.' Here he gave a very violent 

 hiccup. Julia, instead of attending to this order, gi*adually got 

 nearer the chaise. 'Julia,' said he,' 'do you hear; I'll disinherit 

 you, Julia, if you do not obey me; I'll, I'll, cut you off with a 

 shilling, you disobedient, base girl.' * Come, don't be j^ersonal, old 

 gentleman,' said Julia. * What,' said her father; * I tell you, Julia, 

 you must come with me ;' and upon this the old gentleman advanced, 

 and attempted to seize her, but Julia retreating, put herself into a 

 first-rate pugilistic attitude, and said — * I'll tell you what, my old 

 buffer, unless you keep yourself at a greater distance, I shall be 

 obliged to bonnet you.' Mr. Springbok, on this demonstration 

 looked excessively surprised ; but, on advancing to his daughter, was 

 received with a tremendous blow on the top of the hat, which com- 

 pletely extinguished him, sending the hat over his eyes, and pre- 

 venting further proceedings. During the old gentleman's struggles, 

 my Julia decamped, and I stood thunderstruck, until roused by a loud 

 laugh from behind an adjoining wall, where O'Haggerty and friends 



