“Miles!” Rupert repeated, with an astonishment that had more nature in it than had been usual with him of late years.  “This is true, then, and you have not been lost at sea, Wallingford?”

“I am living, as you may see, Mr. Hardinge, and glad of this opportunity to inquire after your father and sister?”

“Both are well, I thank you:  the old gentleman, in particular, will be delighted to see you.  He has felt your misfortunes keenly, and did all he could to avert the sad affair about Clawbonny.  You know he could as well raise a million, as raise five or ten thousand dollars; and poor Lucy is still a minor, and can only touch her income, the savings of which were insufficient, just then.  We did all we could, I can assure you, Wallingford; but I was about commencing house-keeping, and was in want of cash at the moment,—­and you know how it is under such circumstances.  Poor Clawbonny!  I was exceedingly sorry when I heard of it; though they say this Mr. Daggett, your successor, is going to do wonders with it,—­a capitalist, they tell me, and able to carry out all his plans.”

“I am glad Clawbonny has fallen into good hands, since it has passed out of mine.  Good evening, Mr. Hardinge, I shall take an early opportunity to find your father, and to learn the particulars.”

“Yes; he’ll be exceedingly glad to see you, Wallingford; and I’m sure it will always afford me pleasure to aid you, in any way I can.  I fear it must be very low water with you?”

“If having nothing to meet a balance of some twenty or thirty thousand dollars of unpaid debt is what you call low water, the tide is out of my pocket, certainly.  But, I shall not despair; I am young, and have a noble, manly profession.”

“Yes, I dare say, you’ll do remarkably well, Wallingford,” Rupert answered, in a patronizing manner.  “You were always an enterprising fellow; and one need have no great concern for you.  It would hardly be delicate to ask you to see Mrs. Hardinge, just as you are—­not but what you appear uncommonly well in your round-about, but I know precisely how it is with young men when there are ladies in the case; and Emily is a little over-refined, perhaps.”

“Yet, Mrs. Hardinge has seen me often in a round-about, and passed hours in my company, when I have been dressed just as I am at this moment.”

“Ay, at sea.  One gets used to everything at sea.  Good evening; I’ll bear you in mind, Wallingford, and may do something for you.  I am intimate with the heads of all the principal mercantile houses, and shall bear you in mind, certainly.  Good evening, Wallingford.—­A word with you, Marble, before we part.”

I smiled bitterly—­and walked proudly from before Rupert’s door.  Little did I then know that Lucy was seated within thirty feet of me, listening to Andrew Drewett’s conversation and humour.  Of the mood in which she was listening, I shall have occasion to speak presently.  As for Marble, when he overtook me, I was informed that Rupert had stopped him in order to ascertain our address;—­a piece of condescension for which I had not the grace to be thankful.