Ayala's Angel [277]
"You mean about the day?"
"I was meaning about money."
"I don't think I would. He is very generous, but he does not like to be asked. When Augusta was to be married he arranged all that himself after they were engaged."
"But Traffick demanded a certain sum?" This question Captain Batsby asked with considerable surprise, remembering what Mr Traffick had said to him in reference to Augusta's fortune.
"Not at all. Septimus knew nothing about it till after the engagement. He was only too glad to get papa's consent. You mustn't believe all that Septimus says, you know. You may be sure of this -- that you can trust papa's generosity." Then, before he landed her at the door in Queen's Gate, he had promised that he would make another journey to Lombard Street, with the express purpose of obtaining Sir Thomas's sanction to the marriage -- either with or without money.
"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."
"That's as you behave. You didn't suppose that I should allow such a piece of tomfoolery as that to be passed over without saying anything about it! If you marry her and behave well to her I will -- " Then he paused.
"What will you do, Sir Thomas?"
"I'll say as little as possible about the Ostend journey."
"And as to money, Sir Thomas?"
"I think I have promised quite enough for you. You are not in a position, Captain Batsby, to ask me as to money -- nor is she. You shall marry her without a shilling -- or you shall not marry her at all. Which is it to be? I must have an end put to all this. I won't have you hanging about my house unless I know the reason why. Are you two engaged to each other?"
"I suppose we are," said Batsby, lugubriously.
"Suppose is not enough."
"We are," said Batsby, courageously.
"Very well. Then, from this moment, Ostend shall be as though there weren't such a seaport anywhere in Europe. I will never allude to the place again -- unless, perhaps, you should come and stay with me too long when I am particularly anxious to get rid of you. Now you had better go and settle about the time and all that with Lady Tringle, and tell her that you mean to come and dine tomorrow or next day, or whenever it suits. Come and dine as often as you please, only do not bring your wife to live with me pertinaciously when you're not asked." All this Captain Batsby did not understand, but, as he left Lombard Street, he made up his mind that of all the men he had ever met, Sir Thomas Tringle, his future father-in-law, was the most singular. "He's a better fellow than Traffick," said Sir Thomas to himself when he was alone, "and as he has trusted me so far I'll not throw him over."
The Captain now had no hesitation in taking himself to Queen's