u
think you could do something for me now?" asked Gertrude. Hitherto
Sir Thomas had extended no sign of pardon to his youngest daughter,
and never failed to allude to her and to Captain Batsby as "those two
idiots" whenever their names were mentioned before him.

"Yes, my dear; I will endeavour to do a good deal for you if you will
behave yourself."

"What do you call behaving myself, papa?"

"In the first place telling me that you are very sorry for your
misbehaviour with that idiot."

"Of course I am sorry if I have offended you."

"Well, that shall go for something. But how about the idiot?"

"Papa!" she exclaimed.

"Was he not an idiot? Would any one but an idiot have gone on such an
errand as that?"

"Gentlemen and ladies have done it before, papa."

"I doubt it," he said. "Gentlemen have run away with young ladies
before, and generally have behaved very badly when they have done so.
He behaved very badly indeed, because he had come to my house, with
my sanction, with the express purpose of expressing his affection
for another young lady. But I think that his folly in this special
running away was worse even than his conduct. How did he come
to think that he could get himself married merely by crossing
over the sea to Ostend? I should be utterly ashamed of him as a
son-in-law,--chiefly because he has shown himself to be an idiot."

"But, papa, you will accept him, won't you?"

"No, my dear, I will not."

"Not though I love him?"

"If I were to give you a choice which you would take, him or Mr.
Houston?"

"Houston is a scoundrel."

"Very likely; but then he is not an idiot. My choice would be
altogether in favour of Mr. Houston. Shall I tell you what I will do,
my dear? I will consent to accept Captain Batsby as my son-in-law if
he will consent to become your husband without having a shilling with
you."

"Would that be kind, papa?"

"I do not think that I can show you any greater kindness than to
protect you from a man who I am quite sure does not care a farthing
about you. He has, you tell me, an ample income of his own."

"Oh yes, papa."

"Then he can afford to marry you without a fortune. Poor Mr. Houston
could not have done so, because he had nothing of his own. I declare,
as I think of it all, I am becoming very tender-hearted towards Mr.
Houston. Don't you think we had better have Mr. Houston back again?
I suppose he would come if you were to send for him." Then she burst
into tears