“No more swearing, Launce!  Those were the words.  Papa didn’t understand them.  He only said (poor dear!)—­’Bless my soul, Richard, what do you want?’ Richard soon explained himself.  ’Who could he be waiting for—­but Me?’ Papa said something about my being so young.  Richard stopped his mouth directly.  ’Girls were like fruit; some ripened soon, and some ripened late.  Some were women at twenty, and some were women at sixteen.  It was impossible to look at me, and not see that I was like a new being after my two months at sea,’ and so on and so on.  Papa behaved like an angel.  He still tried to put it off.  ’Plenty of time, Richard, plenty of time.’  ‘Plenty of time for her’ (was the wretch’s answer to that); ‘but not for me.  Think of all I have to offer her’ (as if I cared for his money!); ’think how long I have looked upon her as growing up to be my wife’ (growing up for him—­monstrous!), ’and don’t keep me in a state of uncertainty, which it gets harder and harder for a man in my position to endure!’ He was really quite eloquent.  His voice trembled.  There is no doubt, dear, that he is very, very fond of me.”

“And you feel flattered by it, of course?”

“Don’t talk nonsense.  I feel a little frightened at it, I can tell you.”

“Frightened?  Did you notice him this morning?”

“I?  When?”

“When your father was telling that story about the man overboard.”

“No.  What did he do?  Tell me, Launce.”

“I’ll tell you directly.  How did it all end last night?  Did your father make any sort of promise?”

“You know Richard’s way; Richard left him no other choice.  Papa had to promise before he was allowed to go to bed.”

“To let Turlington marry you?”

“Yes; the week after my next birthday.”

“The week after next Christmas-day?”

“Yes.  Papa is to speak to me as soon as we are at home again, and my married life is to begin with the New Year.”

“Are you in earnest, Natalie?  Do you really mean to say it has gone as far as that?”

“They have settled everything.  The splendid establishment we are to set up, the great income we are to have.  I heard papa tell Richard that half his fortune should go to me on my wedding-day.  It was sickening to hear how much they made of Money, and how little they thought of Love.  What am I to do, Launce?”

“That’s easily answered, my darling.  In the first place, you are to make up your mind not to marry Richard Turlington—­”

“Do talk reasonably.  You know I have done all I could.  I have told papa that I can think of Richard as a friend, but not as a husband.  He only laughs at me, and says, ’Wait a little, and you will alter your opinion, my dear.’  You see Richard is everything to him; Richard has always managed his affairs, and has saved him from losing by bad speculations; Richard has known me from the time when I was a child; Richard has a splendid business,