could only afford them conditional protection, but they had such unbounded and childlike confidence in my power and will to take care of them, that they were filled with astonishment when I told them, as tenderly as I could, that they must submit to the Governor, and go with him. Their renewed tears and sobs quite overcame me. As I tried to disengage myself from their embraces, they prayed passionately that I would not forsake them. One boy said, "Ask the Governor to give our little brother to you. He is sick—let him be brought to you. O, my brother—my brother!" Another said, "Darling lady, do not let him take us away. Protect us—save us!"
They were still clinging to me. The Governor rose. There were tears in his eyes, and he said, "Lady, I cannot bear to see your sorrow"—then, to my great wonder, he took leave of me, spoke to the boys gently, and went out with all his attendants.
Shortly afterward my brother returned, and after speaking a few soothing words to the children, who were still sobbing, he said to me, "We will leave the boys here, while we breakfast." So I went with him unsuspiciously into an adjoining room. We had not been seated many minutes, when I heard the tramp of soldiers in the court of the house. I looked out, and saw the poor boys being led away down the steps. They were crying sadly, but offering no resistance. The Governor himself led the eldest boy with gentle firmness, and the younger boys were conducted one by one by the soldiers. I looked on in silence, and they did not see me again.
My brother then told me that he had received by post an order to give up the boys, and had hoped to be able to execute it without my knowledge. It was chiefly in anticipation of this order that he had removed the boys from the Vice-Consulate, that I might not see them made prisoners. He added, "When I came in just now, I met the Governor. He seemed quite disturbed, and said,'O Mr. Rogers, I beg you to cheat your sister for us. The Abdul Hady boys are
