20 THE SHIPWRECK,

sent to them respecting his situation. The first news his
relatives had of his fate was, that he was aboard a man-of-
war, and that he would sail with the first fleet that should
leave France.

Up to this pericd the conduct of Philip Merville speaks
little in his favour. The best idea we can form of him is,
that he was really a‘ sorry fellow ; yet the people of his
neighbourhood, who had known him from infancy, thought
that bad treatment alone had changed his character, and
that he must have been provoked most undeservedly and
bitterly to induce him to perpetrate so cD mischievous
' freaks.

Before the return of Count Charles from his late voy-
age, Philip Merville was esteemed as a young man of
excellent character, full of courage and daring, and withal
of a most mild and obliging disposition. He was then in
his sixteenth year, and was beginning to be very useful to
his father, who exercised the trade of a carpenter,

The business of his father was going on well; and his
family, consisting of two children, Philip our hero, and an
interesting daughter who was unfortunately deprived of
her sight, formed his whole consolation. With angelic
patience the afflicted Maria supported herself under her
misfortune ; and Philip, who doated on her, his only sister,