"How are you again?" said Sir Thomas, when the Captain was for the third time shown into the little back parlour. "Have you had another trip to the continent since I saw you?" Sir Thomas was in a good humour. Tom had gone upon his travels; Mr. Traffick had absolutely taken himself out of the house; and the millions were accommodating themselves comfortably.
"No, Sir Thomas; I haven't been abroad since then. I don't keep on going abroad constantly in that way."
"And what can I do for you now?"
"Of course it's about your daughter. I want to have your permission to consider ourselves engaged."
"I explained to you before that if you and Gertrude choose to marry each other I shall not stand in your way."
"Thank you, Sir."
"I don't know that it is much to thank me for. Only that she made a fool of herself by running away with you I should have preferred to wait till some more sensible candidate had proposed himself for her hand. I don't suppose you'll ever set the Thames on fire."
"I did very well in the army."
"It's a pity you did not remain there, and then, perhaps, you would not have gone to Ostend with my daughter. As it is, there she is. I think she might have done better with herself; but that is her fault. She has made her bed and she must lie upon it."
"If we are to be married I hope you won't go on abusing me always, Sir Thomas."