“You know me too well, my dear guardian—­excellent Lucy—­to think that I would deliberately deceive either of you.  What I now tell you, is to prevent Rupert from being too harshly judged.  I know whence Rupert derived a large sum of money, previously to my sailing.  It was legally obtained, and is, or was, rightfully his.  I do not say it was large enough long to maintain him in the style in which he lives; but it can so maintain him a few years.  You need fear neither cards, nor positive dishonesty.  Rupert has no disposition for either:  he dislikes the first, and is too prudent for the last.”

“God be thanked for this!” the divine exclaimed devoutly.  “I had really frightened myself, with my own folly.  So, so, Master Rupert; you have been making money and holding your peace!  Well, I like his modesty; Rupert is clever, Miles, and I trust will one day take an honourable station at the bar.  His marriage has been a little too early, for one of his means, perhaps; but I feel encouraged now that I find he can make money honourably, and legally, and justly.”

I had said nothing of the honourable, or the just; but what weakness will not parental affection encourage?  As for Lucy, her countenance told me she suspected the truth.  Never before had I seen on those usually placid, and always lovely features, an expression of so much humiliation.  For a single instant, it almost amounted to anguish.  Recovering her self-possession, however, she was the first to turn the discourse to its proper channel.

“All this time, we are forgetting Miles,” she said.  “It would seem, father, that he thinks neither you, nor Rupert, rich enough to be his bail—­can I be of any use, in this way?”

Lucy spoke firmly, and in the manner of one who was beginning to be accustomed to consider herself of some account in the way of money; but, a bright flush suffused her face, as she thus seemed to make herself of more moment than was her wont—­to pass out of her sex, as it might be.

“A thousand thanks, dearest Lucy, for the offer,” I said, eagerly, “but could you become my bail, I certainly would not permit it.  It is enough that you come to visit me here, without further connecting your name with my debts.  A minor, however, cannot become security.  Mr. Daggett will keep me here a few weeks; when he finds I am employing agents to sell my effects, I fancy he is sufficiently a rogue himself to apprehend the money will get beyond the reach of his execution, and he will offer to compromise.  Once at large, I can always go to sea; if not as master, at least as a mate.”

“Had we been as proud as yourself, Miles, Clawbonny would have been less dear to us.”

“It is not pride, but propriety, Lucy, to prevent you from doing a thing for which there is no necessity, and which might subject you to impertinent observations.  No, I’ll set about disposing of my personal property at once; that will soon bring Mr. Daggett to some sense of decency.”