ticks and stivers," his
sisters could not have been more startled and horrified. They dreaded
the law, and hated it with a great and intense hatred, and not without
reason; for their father had been ruined in a law-suit, and his father
had broken the law, in some political manner they could never clearly
understand, and had been condemned by the law to perpetual banishment.

"Will it do you much harm, dear, papa?" inquired Ailie, in great
concern.

"Harm? Of course not. I hope it'll do me, and you too, a great deal of
good."

"I'm _so_ glad to hear that; for I've heard people say that when you
once go into it you never get out of it again."

"So have I," said Aunt Martha, with a deep sigh.

"And so have I," added Aunt Jane, with a deeper sigh, "and I believe
it's true."

"It's false!" cried the captain, laughing, "and you are all silly geese;
the law is--"

"A bright and glorious institution! A desirable investment for the
talents of able men! A machine for justice usually--injustice
occasionally--and, like all other good things, often misused, abused,
and spoken against!" said Glynn Proctor, at that moment entering the
room, and throwing his hat on one chair, and himself on another. "I've
had enough of the sea, captain, and have come to resign my situation,
and beg for dinner."

"You shall have it immediately, dear Glynn," said Martha, whose heart
warmed at the sight of one who had been so kind to her little niece.

"Nay, I'm in no hurry," said Glynn, quickly; "I did but jest, dear
madam, as Shakespeare has it. Perhaps it was Milton who said it; one
can't be sure; but whenever a truly grand remark escapes you, you're
safe to clap it down to Shakespeare."

At this point the servant-girl announced dinner. At the same instant a
heavy foot was heard in the passage, and Tim Rokens announced himself,
saying that he had just seen the captain's lawyer, and had been sent to
say that he wished to see Captain Dunning in the course of the evening.

"Then let him go on wishing till I'm ready to go to him. Meanwhile do
you come and dine with us, Rokens, my lad."

Rokens looked awkward, and shuffled a little with his feet, and shook
his head.

"Why, what's the matter, man?"

Rokens looked as if he wished to speak, but hesitated.

"If ye please, cap'en, I'd raither not, axin' the ladies' parding. I'd
like a word with you in the passage."

"By all means," replied the captain, going out of the room with th