. She of
course had on her bonnet, and thickest shawl, and cloak. She had
thick boots on also, and an umbrella in her hand. The maid was in the
passage, and so was the man who had driven her. She was very cold,
and her nose was blue, and her teeth chattered. She could not tell
her tale of love in such guise, or to such audience.

"What the d---- has brought you up?" repeated the old gentleman,
standing with his two sticks at the sitting-room door. He did not
care who heard him, or how cold it was, or of what nature might be
her present mission. He knew that an extra journey from Littlebath to
London and back, flys and porters included, would cost two pounds ten
shillings. He knew, or thought that he knew, that this might have
been avoided. He also knew that his rheumatism plagued him, that his
old bones were sore, that he could not sleep at night, that he could
not get into the city to see how things went, and that the game was
coming to an end with him, and that the grave was claiming him. It
was not surprising that the old gentleman should be cross.

"I'll tell you if you'll let me come into the room," said Miss Baker.
"Take the box upstairs, Mary. Half a crown! oh no, two shillings
will be quite enough." This economy was assumed to pacify the
old gentleman; but it did not have the desired effect. "One and
sixpence," he holloed out from his crutches. "Don't give him a
halfpenny more."

"Please, sir, the luggage, sir," said the fly driver.

"Luggage!" shouted the old man. His limbs were impotent, but his
voice was not; and the fly-driver shook in his shoes.

"There," said Miss Baker, insidiously giving the man two and
threepence. "I shall not give you a farthing more." It is to be
feared that she intended her uncle to think that his limit had not
been exceeded.

And then she was alone with Mr. Bertram. Her nose was still blue, and
her toes still cold; but at any rate she was alone with him. It was
hard for her to tell her tale; and she thoroughly wished herself back
at Littlebath; but, nevertheless, she did tell it. The courage of
women in some conditions of life surpasses anything that man can do.

"I want to consult you about that," said she, producing Sir Lionel's
letter.

The old gentleman took it, and looked at it, and turned it. "What!
it's from that swindler, is it?" said he.

"It's from Sir Lionel," said Miss Baker, trembling. There were as yet
no promising auspices for the fraternal reconciliation.