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turned to leave the room。
'Why； what in fortune's name is the meaning of all this？'
cried Van Tromp。 'Esther come back！'
'Let her go；' said Dick； and he watched her disappear with
strangely mingled feelings。 For he had fallen into that
stage when men have the vertigo of misfortune； court the
strokes of destiny； and rush towards anything decisive； that
it may free them from suspense though at the cost of ruin。
It is one of the many minor forms of suicide。
'She did not love me；' he said； turning to her father。
'I feared as much；' said he； 'when I sounded her。 Poor Dick；
poor Dick。 And yet I believe I am as much cut up as you are。
I was born to see others happy。'
'You forget；' returned Dick； with something like a sneer；
'that I am now a pauper。'
Van Tromp snapped his fingers。
'Tut！' said he； 'Esther has plenty for us all。'
Dick looked at him with some wonder。 It had never dawned
upon him that this shiftless； thriftless； worthless； sponging
parasite was yet； after and in spite of all； not mercenary in
the issue of his thoughts； yet so it was。
'Now；' said Dick； 'I must go。'
'Go？' cried Van Tromp。 'Where？ Not one foot； Mr。 Richard
Naseby。 Here you shall stay in the meantime！ and … well； and
do something practical … advertise for a situation as private
secretary … and when you have it； go and welcome。 But in the
meantime； sir； no false pride； we must stay with our friends；
we must sponge a while on Papa Van Tromp； who has sponged so
often upon us。'
'By God；' cried Dick； 'I believe you are the best of the
lot。'
'Dick； my boy；' replied the Admiral； winking； 'you mark me； I
am not the worst。'
'Then why；' began Dick； and then paused。 'But Esther；' he
began again； once more to interrupt himself。 'The fact is；
Admiral；' he came out with it roundly now； 'your daughter
wished to run away from you to…day； and I only brought her
back with difficulty。'
'In the pony carriage？' asked the Admiral； with the silliness
of extreme surprise。
'Yes；' Dick answered。
'Why； what the devil was she running away from？'
Dick found the question unusually hard to answer。
'Why；' said he； 'you know； you're a bit of a rip。'
'I behave to that girl； sir； like an archdeacon；' replied Van
Tromp warmly。
'Well … excuse me … but you know you drink；' insisted Dick。
'I know that I was a sheet in the wind's eye； sir； once …
once only； since I reached this place；' retorted the Admiral。
'And even then I was fit for any drawing…room。 I should like
you to tell me how many fathers； lay and clerical； go
upstairs every day with a face like a lobster and cod's eyes
… and are dull； upon the back of it … not even mirth for the
money！ No； if that's what she runs for； all I say is； let
her run。'
'You see；' Dick tried it again； 'she has fancies … '
'Confound her fancies！' cried Van Tromp。 'I used her kindly；
she had her own way； I was her father。 Besides I had taken
quite a liking to the girl； and meant to stay with her for
good。 But I tell you what it is； Dick； since she has trifled
with you … Oh； yes； she did though！ … and since her old
papa's not good enough for her … the devil take her； say I。'
'You will be kind to her at least？' said Dick。
'I never was unkind to a living soul；' replied the Admiral。
'Firm I can be； but not unkind。'
'Well；' said Dick； offering his hand； 'God bless you； and
farewell。'
The Admiral swore by all his gods he should not go。 'Dick；'
he said； 'You are a selfish dog； you forget your old Admiral。
You wouldn't leave him alone； would you？'
It was useless to remind him that the house was not his to
dispose of； that being a class of considerations to which his
intelligence was closed； so Dick tore himself off by force；
and； shouting a good…bye； made off along the lane to
Thymebury。
CHAPTER IX … IN WHICH THE LIBERAL EDITOR RE…APPEARS AS 'DEUS
EX MACHINA'
IT was perhaps a week later； as old Mr。 Naseby sat brooding
in his study； that there was shown in upon him； on urgent
business； a little hectic gentleman shabbily attired。
'I have to ask pardon for this intrusion； Mr。 Naseby；' he
said； 'but I come here to perform a duty。 My card has been
sent in； but perhaps you may not know； what it does not tell
you； that I am the editor of the THYMEBURY STAR。'
Mr。 Naseby looked up； indignant。
'I cannot fancy；' he said； 'that we have much in common to
discuss。'
'I have only a word to say … one piece of information to
communicate。 Some months ago； we had … you will pardon my
referring to it； it is absolutely necessary … but we had an
unfortunate difference as to facts。'
'Have you come to apologise？' asked the Squire； sternly。
'No； sir； to mention a circumstance。 On the morning in
question； your son； Mr。 Richard Naseby … '
'I do not permit his name to be mentioned。'
'You will； however； permit me；' replied the Editor。
'You are cruel；' said the Squire。 He was right； he was a
broken man。
Then the Editor described Dick's warning visit； and how he
had seen in the lad's eye that there was a thrashing in the
wind； and had escaped through pity only … so the Editor put
it … 'through pity only sir。 And oh； sir；' he went on； 'if
you had seen him speaking up for you； I am sure you would
have been proud of your son。 I know I admired the lad
myself； and indeed that's what brings me here。'
'I have misjudged him；' said the Squire。 'Do you know where
he is？'
'Yes； sir； he lies sick at Thymebury。'
'You can take me to him？'
'I can。'
'I pray God he may forgive me；' said the father。
And he and the Editor made post…haste for the country town。
Next day the report went abroad that Mr。 Richard was
reconciled to his father and had been taken home to Naseby
House。 He was still ailing； it was said； and the Squire
nursed him like the proverbial woman。 Rumour； in this
instance； did no more than justice to the truth； and over the
sickbed many confidences were exchanged； and clouds that had
been growing for years passed away in a few hours； and as
fond mankind loves to hope； for ever。 Many long talks had
been fruitless in external action； though fruitful for the
understanding of the pair； but at last； one showery Tuesday；
the Squire might have been observed upon his way to the
cottage in the lane。
The old gentleman had arranged his features with a view to
self…command； rather than external cheerfulness； and he
entered the cottage on his visit of conciliation with the
bearing of a clergyman come to announce a death。
The Admiral and his daughter were both within； and both
looked upon their visitor with more surprise than favour。
'Sir；' said he to Van Tromp； 'I am told I have done you much
injustice。'
There came a little sound in Esther's throat； and she put her
hand suddenly to her heart。
'You have； sir； and the acknowledgment suffices；' replied the
Admiral。 'I am prepared； sir； to be easy with you； since I
hear you have made it up with my friend Dick。 But let me
remind you that you owe some apologies to this young lady
also。'
'I shall have the temerity to ask for more than her
forgiveness；' said the Squire。 'Miss Van Tromp；' he
continued； 'once I was in great distress； and knew nothing of
you or your character； but I believe you will pardon a few
rough words to an old man who asks forgiveness from his
heart。 I have heard much of you since then； for you have a
fervent advocate in my house。 I believe you will understand
that I speak of my son。 He is； I regret to say； very far
from well； he does not pick up as the doctors had expected；
he has a great deal upon his mind； and； to tell you the
truth； my girl； if you won't help us； I am afraid I shall
lose him。 Come now； forgive him！ I was angry with him once
myself； and I