Had  he  done  so,  there  is  little  doubt  that  she  would  have
disclosed  to  him,  sooner  than  she  did,  the  hope  she  secretly
cherished,  that  Herbert  still  existed  and  would  return.  No  sooner
had  Philip  openly  declared  his  intention  of  revisiting  India,  than
Charles'  determination  was  formed  to  break  the  matter  at  once
to  his  father,  and  to  proceed  with  Philip,  should  no  opposition  be
made-^some  objections  he  certainly  anticipated,  but  he  thought
he  could  overcome  them.  Before  he  broached  the  subject  to
his  parents,  he  held  a  long  and  anxious  conversation  with  Philip,
and  was  delighted  to  find  that  he  not  only  coincided  in  his  views,
but  was  prepared  to  aid  them  by  his  interest  in  the  purchase  of
an  ensigncy  in  the  regiment  to  which  he  now  belonged,  in  which
there  was  a  vacant  commission.
His  proposal,  as  he  had  anticipated,  was  met  by  many  objec-
tions and  niuch  distress  on  the  part  of  his  parents  and  sister.
Loving  him  tenderly  as  she  did,  Amy  could  not  bear  the  thought
which  at  first  obtruded  upon  her,  that  India  would  be  his  grave,
as  it  had  been  that  of  Herbert  But  the  young  man  was  resolute ;
and,  after  exhausting  all  his  arguments,  he  called  Philip  Dalton
to  his  aid,  who  not  only  promised  to  be  a  guardian  to  him,  but
declared  he  would  let  slip  no  opportunity  of  bettering  his  station
and  prospects  in  his  profession.  All  opposition,  therefore,  ceased
gradually,  partly  because  Charles  appeared  to  relish  the  prospects


TIPPOO  SULTAVN.  239

of  a  militafy  life  more  than  any  othef,  and  partly  because  there
appeared  a  likeUhood  of  rapid  advancement  in  the  regiment  while
it  remained  on  its  eastern  service.
