"Of course not, Susan. There, Mr Hartshorne," he said, turning to Tom. "I told you that I did not detain the girl against her will, and you can hear her answer for yourself. I wish to act fairly in the matter, no matter how my motives are misunderstood. Susan," he said, again addressing her, "what will you do--go with your brother or stay here with me?" The only answer she made was to cling closer round his neck. Markworth looked at Tom triumphantly, and the latter felt humbled. "I'm sure it is not my fault," he said. "I daresay you mean very well, Markworth, but I don't retract what I said to you the other day. It was dishonourable for you to take my sister away like that. As for the money, however, now that I see her well and happy, you might cheerfully have it for all I care." "Thank you," said Markworth, really touched, "you are a generous fellow, and I promise you to take care of your sister carefully for your sake as well as her own. She is well and happy now, and quite recovered, as you can see for yourself, but if she went back she might relapse again, although I won't prevent her from going." Tom saw there was no use in trying to urge Susan, for she would not come with him and leave Markworth. He therefore only stopped that day with her, and returned on the morrow to Southampton, to report his want of success. He gave a very truthful account of his mission, and told both his mother and the doctor that Susan was quite restored. The old dowager appeared not to care very much about the matter, and reiterated her intention of preventing Markworth from "getting a penny of her money." The doctor was pleased to hear such good accounts of his former patient, but he was apprehensive as to the duration of Markworth's kind treatment to Susan. "Bless my soul, sir!" said he to Tom, "it may be all very true now, but you can't expect to make a nigger change his skin, or make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, as they say somewhere or other, in something I've read. That man's bad at the bottom, Tom, as certain as God made little apples!"--the doctor, in his customary manner, mixing up a hypothesis with two biblical proverbs. Thus ended Tom's mission after Susan. He shortly afterwards arranged another enterprise with a different object, and how he fared here will be detailed in the next chapter. Volume 2, Chapter IX. "FIDDLE-DE-DEE!" "Fiddle-de-dee! Thomas," said the old dowager, with considerable asperity, "why you'll be wanting a glass coach and four, and a cocked hat next. Stuff and nonsense, sir, it's all fiddle-de-dee!" "But, mother--" "But me no buts sir! I tell you I won't have it, and that's enough." "Really, mother." "Really, indeed! I suppose you think I'm as great a fool as you are, Thomas." "Pray don't excite yourself, mother," said Tom, trying to keep down the thermometer until he could obtain a fair hearing, but the old lady was not to be pacified, for his soothing words only added fuel to the fire.