“And you shall be with my niece when she is Mrs. Talboys.”

“I might do worse, sir, and so might she.  He is respected far and wide, and a grand house, and a carriage and four, and everything to make a lady comfortable.  Your servant, sir, and wishes you many thanks.”

“And such as Jane was, all true servants are.”

The ancients used to bribe the Oracle of Delphi.  Curious.

CHAPTER XXIV.

Lucy’s twenty-first birthday dawned, but it was not to her the gay exulting day it is to some.  Last night her uncle and aunt had gone a step further, and, instead of kissing her ceremoniously, had evaded her.  They were drawing matters to a climax:  once of age, each day would make her more independent in spirit as in circumstances.  This morning she hoped custom would shield her from unkindness for one day at least.  But no, they made it clear there was but one way back to their smiles.  Their congratulations at the breakfast-table were cold and constrained; her heart fell; and long before noon on her birthday she was crying.  Thus weakened, she had to encounter a thoroughly prepared attack.  Mr. Bazalgette summoned her to his study at one o’clock, and there she found him and Mrs. Bazalgette and Mr. Fountain seated solemnly in conclave.  The merchant was adding up figures.

“Come, now, business,” said he.  “Dick has added them up:  his figures are in that envelope; break the seal and open it, Lucy.  If his total corresponds with mine, we are right; if not, I am wrong, and you will all have to go over it with me till we are right.”  A general groan followed this announcement.  Luckily, the sum totals corresponded to a fraction.

Then Mr. Bazalgette made Lucy a little speech.

“My dear, in laying down that office which your amiable nature has rendered so agreeable, I feel a natural regret on your account that the property my colleague there and I have had to deal with on your account has not been more important.  However, as far as it goes, we have been fortunate.  Consols have risen amazingly since we took you off land and funded you.  The rise in value of your little capital since your mother’s death is calculated on this card.  You have, also, some loose cash, which I will hand over to you immediately.  Let me see—­eleven hundred and sixty pounds and five shillings.  Write your name in full on that paper, Lucy.”

He touched a bell; a servant came.  He wrote a line and folded it, inclosing Lucy’s signature.

“Let this go to Mr. Hardie’s bank immediately.  Hardie will give you three per cent for your money.  Better than nothing.  You must have a check-book.  He sent me a new one yesterday.  Here it is; you shall have it.  I wonder whether you know how to draw a check?”

“No, uncle.”

“Look here, then.  You note the particulars first on this counter-foil, which thus serves in some degree for an account-book.  In drawing the check, place the sum in letters close to these printed words, and the sum in figures close to the pound.  For want of this precaution, the holder of the check has been known to turn a 10 pound check into 110 pounds.”