sulky. With these troubles all around him, Sir
Thomas was sitting oppressed and disheartened in Lombard Street on
Friday, the 11th of April.

Then there entered to him one of the junior clerks with a card
announcing the name of Captain Batsby. He looked at it for some
seconds before he gave any notification of his intention, and then
desired the young man to tell the gentleman that he would not see
him. The message had been delivered, and Captain Batsby with a frown
of anger on his brow was about to shake the dust off from his feet on
the uncourteous threshold when there came another message saying that
Captain Batsby could go in and see Sir Thomas if he wished it. Upon
this he turned round and was shown into the little sitting-room.
"Well, Captain Batsby," said Sir Thomas; "what can I do for you now?
I am glad to see that you have come back safely from foreign parts."

"I have called," said the Captain, "to say something about your
daughter."

"What more can you have to say about her?"

At this the Captain was considerably puzzled. Of course Sir Thomas
must know what he had to say. "The way in which we were separated at
Ostend was very distressing to my feelings."

"I daresay."

"And also I should think to Miss Tringle's."

"Not improbably. I have always observed that when people are
interrupted in the performance of some egregious stupidity their
feelings are hurt. As I said before, what can I do for you now?"

"I am very anxious to complete the alliance which I have done myself
the honour to propose to you."

"I did not know that you had proposed anything. You came down to my
house under a false pretence; and then you persuaded my daughter,--or
else she persuaded you,--to go off together to Ostend. Is that what
you call an alliance?"

"That, as far as it went was,--was an elopement."

"Am I to understand that you now want to arrange another elopement,
and that you have come to ask my consent?"

"Oh dear no."

"Then what do you mean by completing an alliance?"

"I want to make," said the Captain, "an offer for the young lady's
hand in a proper form. I consider myself to be in a position which
justifies me in doing so. I am possessed of the young lady's
affections, and have means of my own equal to those which I presume
you will be disposed to give her."

"Very much better means I hope, Captain Batsby. Otherwise I do not
see what you and your wife would have to live upon. I will tell you
exactly w