d. "What you have to do is to get a
wife,--and a son before any of 'em can say Jack Robinson. Lord bless
you! Just spit at 'em if they talks of buying it. S'pose the old gent
was to go off all along of apperplexy the next day, how'd you feel
then? Like cutting your throat;--wouldn't you, Captain?"

"But my uncle's life is very good."

"He ain't got no receipt against kingdom come, I dare say." Ralph was
surprised by his tradesman's eloquence and wit. "You have a chick of
your own, and then you'll know as it'll be yours some way or other.
If I'd the chance I'd sooner beg, borrow, starve, or die, before I'd
sell it;--let alone working, Captain." There was satire too as well
as eloquence in the breeches-maker. "No;--you must run your chance,
somehow."

"I don't see my way," said Ralph.

"You have got something, Captain;--something of your own?"

"Well;--just enough to pay my debts, if all were sold, and buy myself
a rope to hang myself."

"I'll pay your debts, Captain."

"I couldn't hear of it, Mr. Neefit."

"As for not hearing of it,--that's bother. You do hear of it now. And
how much more do you want to keep you? You shall have what you want.
You meant honest along of Polly yesterday, and you mean honest now."
Ralph winced, but he did not deny what Neefit said, nor aught that
was implied in the saying. "We'll bring you and Polly together, and I
tell you she'll come round." Ralph shook his head. "Anyways you shall
have the money;--there now. We'll have a bit of a paper, and if this
marriage don't come off there'll be the money to come back, and five
per cent. when the old gent dies."

"But I might die first."

"We'll insure your life, Captain. Only we must be upon the square."

"Oh, yes," said Ralph.

"I'd rather a'most lose it all than think such a chance should be
missed. L7,000 a year, and all in land? When one knows how hard it is
to get, to think of selling it!"

Ralph made no positive promise, but when Mr. Neefit left him, there
was,--so at least thought Mr. Neefit,--an implied understanding that
"the Captain" would at once put an end to this transaction between
him and his uncle. And yet Ralph didn't feel quite certain. The
breeches-maker had been generous,--very generous, and very trusting;
but he hated the man's generosity and confidence. The breeches-maker
had got such a hold of him that he seemed to have lost all power of
thinking and acting for himself. And then such a man as he was, with
his