In the meantime he was
relegated to a dingy little waiting-room, which was odious to him,
and there he was kept waiting for half-an-hour. This made him angry,
and he called to one of the clerks. "Will you tell Sir Thomas that
I must be down at the House almost immediately, and that I am
particularly anxious to see him on business of importance?" For
another ten minutes he was still kept, and then he was shown into
his father-in law's presence. "I am very sorry, Traffick," said Sir
Thomas, "but I really can't turn two Directors of the Bank of England
out of my room, even for you."

"I only thought I would just let you know that I am in a hurry."

"So am I, for the matter of that. Have you gone to your father's
house to-day, so that you would not be able to see me in Queen's
Gate?"

This was intended to be very severe, but Mr. Traffick bore it. It
was one of those rough things which Sir Thomas was in the habit of
saying, but which really meant nothing. "No. My father is still at
his house as yet, though they are thinking of going every day. It is
about another matter, and I did not want to trouble you with it at
home."

"Let us hear what it is."

"Captain Batsby has been with me."

"Oh, he has, has he?"

"I've known him ever so long. He's a foolish fellow."

"So he seems."

"But a gentleman."

"Perhaps I am not so good a judge of that. His folly I did perceive."

"Oh yes; he's a gentleman. You may take my word for that. And he has
means."

"That's an advantage."

"While that fellow Houston is hardly more than a beggar. And Batsby
is quite in earnest about Gertrude."

"If the two of them wish it he can have her to-morrow. She has made
herself a conspicuous ass by running away with him, and perhaps it's
the best thing she can do."

"That's just it. Augusta sees it quite in the same light."

"Augusta was never tempted. You wouldn't have run away."

"It wasn't necessary, Sir Thomas, was it? There he is,--ready to
marry her to-morrow. But, of course, he is a little anxious about the
money."

"I dare say he is."

"I've been talking to him,--and the upshot is, that I have promised
to speak to you. He isn't at all a bad fellow."

"He'd keep a house over his wife's head, you think?" Sir Thomas had
been particularly irate that morning, and before the arrival of his
son-in-law had sworn to himself that Traffick should go. Augusta
might remain, if she pleased, for the occurrence; but the Honourable
Sept