THEIR FAMILY TROUBLES. 365

her friend’s reserve, sincerely sympathising with her
in having any new cause of anxiety and distress,
Leaving her, therefore, to open her business respect-
ing her nephew to Mrs. Osborne as a sort of prelimi-
nary step in the affair, we will communicate to the
reader that unhappy circumstance regarding the
Edwards's, which Joanna knew only later.

The letter which Phebe had written was rather
indefinite, but one which filled those to whom it was
addressed with horror. It spoke of temptation and
crime, of loss of character for ever, and of the severest
punishment of the law, and besought her brother-in-
law to hasten to them immediately. He did so, and
found his worst fears to be true. Edwatds had been
again tempted to embark in some wild speculation ;
money was wanted which his own means did not
supply, and having gained the confidence of his em-
ployers, he had taken advantage of it, and had, at
two several times, drawn money from the bank by
forged orders in the names of merchants who had
large dealings with the house. In the first instance,
six months had elapsed without detection; in the
second, to a larger amount, detection came speedily.

On the first moment of alarm, he had escaped on
board a vessel bound for Hamburgh ; but had been
pursued and taken while the vessel was under weigh.
There was not a word to be said in his extenuation ;
the fact was as it were proved upon him ; he was in
the fangs of the law, and was committed to take his
trial.

Such were the facts respecting which Mrs. Osborne
might well be excused from saying much. In a
week’s time her husband was again at home; and
Miss Kendrick made application on behalf of her