I made up my mind to marry I stated what I thought I had a right
to demand, and I got it. He knew very well that I shouldn't take a
shilling less. It does make a difference when he knows very well that
you've got to marry the girl whether with or without money."

"I haven't got to marry the girl at all."

"Haven't you? I rather think you have, old fellow. It is generally
considered that when a gentleman has gone off with a girl he means to
marry her."

"Not if the father comes after her and brings her back."

"And when he has gone afterwards to the family house and proposed
himself again in the mother's presence." In all this Mr. Traffick
received an unfair advantage from the communications which were made
to him by his wife. "Of course you must marry her. Sir Thomas knows
that, and, knowing it, why should he be flush with his money? I never
allowed myself to say a single word they could use against me till
the ready-money-down had been all settled."

"What was it he did say?" Batsby was thoroughly sick of hearing his
counsellor tell so many things as to his own prudence and his own
success, and asked the question in an angry tone.

"He said that he would not consider the question of money at all till
the marriage had been solemnised. Of course he stands on his right.
Why shouldn't he? But, rough as he is, he isn't stingy. Give him his
due. He isn't stingy. The money's there all right; and the girl is
his own child. You'll have to wait his time;--that's all."

"And have nothing to begin with?"

"That'll be about it, I think. But what does it matter, Batsby? You
are always talking about your income."

"No, I aint; not half so much as you do of your seat in
Parliament,--which everybody says you are likely to lose at the next
election." Then, of course, there was a quarrel. Mr. Traffick took
his offended dignity back to the House,--almost doubting whether it
might not be his duty to bring Captain Batsby to the bar for contempt
of privilege; and the Captain took himself off in thorough disgust.

Nevertheless there was the fact that he had engaged himself to the
young lady a second time. He had run away with her with the object
of marrying her, and had then, according to his own theory in such
matters,--been relieved from his responsibility by the appearance of
the father and the re-abduction of the young lady. As the young lady
had been taken away from him it was to be supposed that the intended
marriage was neg