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think that you are right in this。 Suppose the world is
unjust； suppose that no one understands you； you have still a
duty to yourself。 And； oh； don't spoil the pleasure of your
coming home to me； show me that you can be my father and yet
not neglect your destiny。 I am not like some daughters； I
will not be jealous of your art； and I will try to understand
it。'
The situation was odiously farcical。 Richard groaned under
it； he longed to leap forward and denounce the humbug。 And
the humbug himself？ Do you fancy he was easier in his mind？
I am sure； on the other hand； that he was acutely miserable；
and he betrayed his sufferings by a perfectly silly and
undignified access of temper； during which he broke his pipe
in several pieces； threw his brandy and water in the fire；
and employed words which were very plain although the drift
of them was somewhat vague。 It was of very brief duration。
Van Tromp was himself again； and in a most delightful humour
within three minutes of the first explosion。
'I am an old fool；' he said frankly。 'I was spoiled when a
child。 As for you； Esther； you take after your mother； you
have a morbid sense of duty； particularly for others； strive
against it； my dear … strive against it。 And as for the
pigments； well； I'll use them； some of these days； and to
show that I'm in earnest； I'll get Dick here to prepare a
canvas。'
Dick was put to this menial task forthwith； the Admiral not
even watching how he did； but quite occupied with another
grog and a pleasant vein of talk。
A little after Esther arose； and making some pretext； good or
bad； went off to bed。 Dick was left hobbled by the canvas；
and was subjected to Van Tromp for about an hour。
The next day； Saturday； it is believed that little
intercourse took place between Esther and her father； but
towards the afternoon Dick met the latter returning from the
direction of the inn； where he had struck up quite a
friendship with the landlord。 Dick wondered who paid for
these excursions； and at the thought that the reprobate must
get his pocket money where he got his board and lodging； from
poor Esther's generosity； he had it almost in his heart to
knock the old gentleman down。 He； on his part； was full of
airs and graces and geniality。
'Dear Dick；' he said； taking his arm； 'this is neighbourly of
you； it shows your tact to meet me when I had a wish for you。
I am in pleasant spirits； and it is then that I desire a
friend。'
'I am glad to hear you are so happy；' retorted Dick bitterly。
'There's certainly not much to trouble YOU。'
'No；' assented the Admiral； 'not much。 I got out of it in
time； and here … well； here everything pleases me。 I am
plain in my tastes。 'A PROPOS； you have never asked me how I
liked my daughter？'
'No；' said Dick roundly； 'I certainly have not。'
'Meaning you will not。 And why； Dick？ She is my daughter；
of course； but then I am a man of the world and a man of
taste； and perfectly qualified to give an opinion with
impartiality … yes； Dick； with impartiality。 Frankly； I am
not disappointed in her。 She has good looks； she has them
from her mother。 So I may say I CHOSE her looks。 She is
devoted； quite devoted to me … '
'She is the best woman in the world！' broke out Dick。
'Dick；' cried the Admiral； stopping short； 'I have been
expecting this。 Let us … let us go back to the 〃Trevanion
Arms〃 and talk this matter out over a bottle。'
'Certainly not；' went Dick。 'You have had far too much
already。'
The parasite was on the point of resenting this； but a look
at Dick's face； and some recollection of the terms on which
they had stood in Paris； came to the aid of his wisdom and
restrained him。
'As you please；' he said； 'although I don't know what you
mean … nor care。 But let us walk； if you prefer it。 You are
still a young man； when you are my age … But； however； to
continue。 You please me； Dick； you have pleased me from the
first； and to say truth； Esther is a trifle fantastic； and
will be better when she is married。 She has means of her
own； as of course you are aware。 They come； like the looks；
from her poor； dear； good creature of a mother。 She was
blessed in her mother。 I mean she shall be blessed in her
husband； and you are the man； Dick； you and not another。
This very night I will sound her affections。'
Dick stood aghast。
'Mr。 Van Tromp； I implore you；' he said； 'do what you please
with yourself； but； for God's sake； let your daughter alone。'
'It is my duty；' replied the Admiral； 'and between ourselves；
you rogue； my inclination too。 I am as matchmaking as a
dowager。 It will be more discreet for you to stay away to…
night。 Farewell。 You leave your case in good hands； I have
the tact of these little matters by heart； it is not my first
attempt。'
All arguments were in vain； the old rascal stuck to his
point； nor did Richard conceal from himself how seriously
this might injure his prospects； and he fought hard。 Once
there came a glimmer of hope。 The Admiral again proposed an
adjournment to the 'Trevanion Arms；' and when Dick had once
more refused； it hung for a moment in the balance whether or
not the old toper would return there by himself。 Had he done
so； of course Dick could have taken to his heels； and warned
Esther of what was coming； and of how it had begun。 But the
Admiral； after a pause； decided for the brandy at home； and
made off in that direction。
We have no details of the sounding。
Next day the Admiral was observed in the parish church； very
properly dressed。 He found the places； and joined in
response and hymn； as to the manner born； and his appearance；
as he intended it should； attracted some attention among the
worshippers。 Old Naseby； for instance； had observed him。
'There was a drunken…looking blackguard opposite us in
church；' he said to his son as they drove home； 'do you know
who he was？'
'Some fellow … Van Tromp； I believe；' said Dick。
'A foreigner； too！' observed the Squire。
Dick could not sufficiently congratulate himself on the
escape he had effected。 Had the Admiral met him with his
father； what would have been the result？ And could such a
catastrophe be long postponed？ It seemed to him as if the
storm were nearly ripe； and it was so more nearly than he
thought。
He did not go to the cottage in the afternoon； withheld by
fear and shame； but when dinner was over at Naseby House； and
the Squire had gone off into a comfortable doze； Dick slipped
out of the room； and ran across country； in part to save
time； in part to save his own courage from growing cold； for
he now hated the notion of the cottage or the Admiral； and if
he did not hate； at least feared to think of Esther。 He had
no clue to her reflections； but he could not conceal from his
own heart that he must have sunk in her esteem； and the
spectacle of her infatuation galled him like an insult。
He knocked and was admitted。 The room looked very much as on
his last visit； with Esther at the table and Van Tromp beside
the fire； but the expression of the two faces told a very
different story。 The girl was paler than usual； her eyes
were dark； the colour seemed to have faded from round about
them； and her swiftest glance was as intent as a stare。 The
appearance of the Admiral； on the other hand； was rosy； and
flabby； and moist； his jowl hung over his shirt collar； his
smile was loose and wandering； and he had so far relaxed the
natural control of his eyes； that one of them was aimed
inward； as if to watch the growth of the carbuncle。 We are
warned against bad judgments； but the Admiral was certainly
not sober。 He made no attempt to rise when Richard entered；
but waved his pipe flightily in the air； and gave a leer of
welcome。 Esther took as little notice of him as might be。
'Aha！ Dick！' cried the painter。