Captain with a stern demeanour
and angry brow left the room and took himself in silence away from
Lombard Street.

"Do you want to marry Captain Batsby?" Sir Thomas said to his
daughter that evening, having invited her to come apart with him
after dinner.

"Yes, I do."

"You think that you prefer him on the whole to Mr. Houston?"

"Mr. Houston is a scoundrel. I wish that you would not talk about
him, papa."

"I like him so much the best of the two," said Sir Thomas. "But of
course it is for you to judge. I could have brought myself to give
something to Houston. Luckily, however, Captain Batsby has got an
income of his own."

"He has, papa."

"And you are sure that you would like to take him as your husband?"

"Yes, papa."

"Very well. He has been with me to-day."

"Is he in London?"

"I tell you that he has been with me to-day in Lombard Street."

"What did he say? Did he say anything about me?"

"Yes, my dear. He came to ask me for your hand."

"Well, papa."

"I told him that I should make no objection,--that I should leave
it altogether to you. I only interfered with one small detail as to
my own wishes. I assured him that I should never give him or you
a single shilling. I don't suppose it will matter much to him, as
he has, you know, means of his own." It was thus that Sir Thomas
punished his daughter for her misconduct.

Captain Batsby and the Trafficks were acquainted with each other. The
Member of Parliament had, of course, heard of the journey to Ostend
from his wife, and had been instigated by her to express an opinion
that the young people ought to be married. "It is such a very serious
thing," said Augusta to her husband, "to be four hours on the sea
together! And then you know--!" Mr. Traffick acknowledged that it was
serious, and was reminded by his wife that he, in the capacity of
brother, was bound to interfere on his sister's behalf. "Papa, you
know, understands nothing about these kind of things. You, with your
family interest, and your seat in Parliament, ought to be able to
arrange it." Mr. Traffick probably knew how far his family interest
and his seat in Parliament would avail. They had, at any rate, got
him a wife with a large fortune. They were promising for him, still
further, certain domiciliary advantages. He doubted whether he could
do much for Batsby; but still he promised to try. If he could arrange
these matters it might be that he would curry fresh favour with Sir