k had absolutely
taken himself out of the house; and the millions were accommodating
themselves comfortably.

"No, Sir Thomas; I haven't been abroad since then. I don't keep on
going abroad constantly in that way."

"And what can I do for you now?"

"Of course it's about your daughter. I want to have your permission
to consider ourselves engaged."

"I explained to you before that if you and Gertrude choose to marry
each other I shall not stand in your way."

"Thank you, Sir."

"I don't know that it is much to thank me for. Only that she made a
fool of herself by running away with you I should have preferred to
wait till some more sensible candidate had proposed himself for her
hand. I don't suppose you'll ever set the Thames on fire."

"I did very well in the army."

"It's a pity you did not remain there, and then, perhaps, you would
not have gone to Ostend with my daughter. As it is, there she is. I
think she might have done better with herself; but that is her fault.
She has made her bed and she must lie upon it."

"If we are to be married I hope you won't go on abusing me always,
Sir Thomas."

"That's as you behave. You didn't suppose that I should allow such a
piece of tomfoolery as that to be passed over without saying anything
about it! If you marry her and behave well to her I will--" Then he
paused.

"What will you do, Sir Thomas?"

"I'll say as little as possible about the Ostend journey."

"And as to money, Sir Thomas?"

"I think I have promised quite enough for you. You are not in a
position, Captain Batsby, to ask me as to money;--nor is she. You
shall marry her without a shilling,--or you shall not marry her at
all. Which is it to be? I must have an end put to all this. I won't
have you hanging about my house unless I know the reason why. Are you
two engaged to each other?"

"I suppose we are," said Batsby, lugubriously.

"Suppose is not enough."

"We are," said Batsby, courageously.

"Very well. Then, from this moment, Ostend shall be as though there
weren't such a seaport anywhere in Europe. I will never allude to the
place again,--unless, perhaps, you should come and stay with me too
long when I am particularly anxious to get rid of you. Now you had
better go and settle about the time and all that with Lady Tringle,
and tell her that you mean to come and dine to-morrow or next day,
or whenever it suits. Come and dine as often as you please, only do
not bring your wife to live wi