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up this breach of kindness； and reunite two hearts。 But
alas！ the Squire was sick and peevish； he had been all day
glooming over Dick's estrangement … for so he put it to
himself； and now with growls； cold words； and the cold
shoulder； he beat off all advances； and entrenched himself in
a just resentment。
CHAPTER V … THE PRODIGAL FATHER MAKES HIS DEBUT AT HOME
THAT took place upon a Tuesday。 On the Thursday following；
as Dick was walking by appointment； earlier than usual； in
the direction of the cottage； he was appalled to meet in the
lane a fly from Thymebury； containing the human form of Miss
M'Glashan。 The lady did not deign to remark him in her
passage； her face was suffused with tears； and expressed much
concern for the packages by which she was surrounded。 He
stood still； and asked himself what this circumstance might
portend。 It was so beautiful a day that he was loth to
forecast evil； yet something must perforce have happened at
the cottage； and that of a decisive nature； for here was Miss
M'Glashan on her travels； with a small patrimony in brown
paper parcels； and the old lady's bearing implied hot battle
and unqualified defeat。 Was the house to be closed against
him？ Was Esther left alone； or had some new protector made
his appearance from among the millions of Europe？ It is the
character of love to loathe the near relatives of the loved
one； chapters in the history of the human race have justified
this feeling； and the conduct of uncles； in particular； has
frequently met with censure from the independent novelist。
Miss M'Glashan was now seen in the rosy colours of regret；
whoever succeeded her； Dick felt the change would be for the
worse。 He hurried forward in this spirit； his anxiety grew
upon him with every step； as he entered the garden a voice
fell upon his ear； and he was once more arrested； not this
time by doubt； but by indubitable certainty of ill。
The thunderbolt had fallen； the Admiral was here。
Dick would have retreated； in the panic terror of the moment；
but Esther kept a bright look…out when her lover was
expected。 In a twinkling she was by his side； brimful of
news and pleasure； too glad to notice his embarrassment； and
in one of those golden transports of exultation which
transcend not only words but caresses。 She took him by the
end of the fingers （reaching forward to take them； for her
great preoccupation was to save time）； she drew him towards
her； pushed him past her in the door； and planted him face to
face with Mr。 Van Tromp； in a suit of French country
velveteens and with a remarkable carbuncle on his nose。
Then； as though this was the end of what she could endure in
the way of joy； Esther turned and ran out of the room。
The two men remained looking at each other with some
confusion on both sides。 Van Tromp was naturally the first
to recover； he put out his hand with a fine gesture。
'And you know my little lass； my Esther？' he said。 'This is
pleasant； this is what I have conceived of home。 A strange
word for the old rover； but we all have a taste for home and
the home…like； disguise it how we may。 It has brought me
here； Mr。 Naseby；' he concluded； with an intonation that
would have made his fortune on the stage； so just； so sad； so
dignified； so like a man of the world and a philosopher； 'and
you see a man who is content。'
'I see；' said Dick。
'Sit down；' continued the parasite； setting the example。
'Fortune has gone against me。 （I am just sirrupping a little
brandy … after my journey。） I was going down； Mr。 Naseby；
between you and me； I was DECAVE； I borrowed fifty francs；
smuggled my valise past the concierge … a work of
considerable tact … and here I am！'
'Yes；' said Dick； 'and here you are。' He was quite idiotic。
Esther； at this moment； re…entered the room。
'Are you glad to see him？' she whispered in his ear； the
pleasure in her voice almost bursting through the whisper
into song。
'Oh yes；' said Dick； 'very。'
'I knew you would be；' she replied； 'I told him how you loved
him。'
'Help yourself；' said the Admiral； 'help yourself； and let us
drink to a new existence。'
'To a new existence；' repeated Dick； and he raised the
tumbler to his lips； but set it down untasted。 He had had
enough of novelties for one day。
Esther was sitting on a stool beside her father's feet；
holding her knees in her arms； and looking with pride from
one to the other of her two visitors。 Her eyes were so
bright that you were never sure if there were tears in them
or not； little voluptuous shivers ran about her body；
sometimes she nestled her chin into her throat； sometimes
threw back her head； with ecstasy； in a word； she was in that
state when it is said of people that they cannot contain
themselves for happiness。 It would be hard to exaggerate the
agony of Richard。
And； in the meantime； Van Tromp ran on interminably。
'I never forget a friend；' said he； 'nor yet an enemy： of the
latter； I never had but two … myself and the public； and I
fancy I have had my vengeance pretty freely out of both。' He
chuckled。 'But those days are done。 Van Tromp is no more。
He was a man who had successes； I believe you knew I had
successes … to which we shall refer no farther；' pulling down
his neckcloth with a smile。 'That man exists no more： by an
exercise of will I have destroyed him。 There is something
like it in the poets。 First； a brilliant and conspicuous
career … the observed； I may say； of all observers； including
the bum…bailie： and then； presto！ a quiet； sly； old； rustic
BONHOMME； cultivating roses。 In Paris； Mr。 Naseby … '
'Call him Richard； father；' said Esther。
'Richard； if he will allow me。 Indeed； we are old friends；
and now near neighbours； and； A PROPOS； how are we off for
neighbours； Richard？ The cottage stands； I think； upon your
father's land … a family which I respect … and the wood； I
understand； is Lord Trevanion's。 Not that I care； I am an
old Bohemian。 I have cut society with a cut direct； I cut it
when I was prosperous； and now I reap my reward； and can cut
it with dignity in my declension。 These are our little
AMOURS PROPRES； my daughter： your father must respect
himself。 Thank you； yes； just a leetle； leetle； tiny …
thanks； thanks； you spoil me。 But； as I was saying； Richard；
or was about to say； my daughter has been allowed to rust；
her aunt was a mere duenna； hence； in parenthesis； Richard；
her distrust of me； my nature and that of the duenna are
poles asunder … poles！ But； now that I am here； now that I
have given up the fight； and live henceforth for one only of
my works … I have the modesty to say it is my best … my
daughter … well； we shall put all that to rights。 The
neighbours； Richard？'
Dick was understood to say that there were many good families
in the Vale of Thyme。
'You shall introduce us；' said the Admiral。
Dick's shirt was wet； he made a lumbering excuse to go； which
Esther explained to herself by a fear of intrusion； and so
set down to the merit side of Dick's account； while she
proceeded to detain him。
'Before our walk？' she cried。 'Never！ I must have my walk。'
'Let us all go；' said the Admiral； rising。
'You do not know that you are wanted；' she cried； leaning on
his shoulder with a caress。 'I might wish to speak to my old
friend about my new father。 But you shall come to…day； you
shall do all you want； I have set my heart on spoiling you。'
'I will just take ONE drop more；' said the Admiral； stooping
to help himself to brandy。 'It is surprising how this
journey has fatigued me。 But I am growing old； I am growing
old； I am growing old； and … I regret to add … bald。'
He cocked a white wide…awake coquettishly upon his head … the
habit of the lady…killer clung to him； and Esther had already
thrown on her hat； and was ready； wh