"I might perhaps have done more, Maude," he said, "but, hang it all, what more can I do? A fellow can't hardly say his soul's his own in this house. I've tried all I can to get the governor to take the lead, but the old woman sits upon him so heavily that he hasn't a chance." Maude only wept silently and laid her head upon his shoulder. "There, there, little girl," he said, "cheer up. It's fashion, and you mustn't mind. Old Wilters is very soft after all, and you must take a leaf out of the old girl's book, and serve him out for it all. Hang me, if I were you, if I wouldn't make him pay dearly for all this." "Hush, Tom, dear Tom. Pray, pray don't talk about it. Tom, dear, when I am gone--" "There, I say, hang it all, don't talk as if you were going to pop off." "Listen to me, Tom dear," said Maude, firmly. "I say when I am gone, be as kind as you can to poor papa. I may not be able to speak to you again." "All right," said Tom; "but I say, you will try and hold up." "Yes, Tom dear, yes." "That's right, old girl, make the best of a bad bargain. You won't be much worse off than Diana. Fashionable martyrs both of you." "Yes, Tom dear." "And you will try to be happy?" "Yes, dear, I'm going to be happy. But you'll think the best of me, dear, and take care of poor papa?" "Of course I will. The old man will be better off when you are gone. Her majesty won't be so stingy when she has got you both off her hands, and married to rich men." "No, dear. I will try and cheer up." "That's right, old girl. I wish some one would make me happy." This was accompanied by a look at Tryphie, who was in the room. "I don't see how you can expect any lady to make you happy, Tom," said the little girl, sharply. "A gentleman who worships two idols, cigars and billiards, cannot have room for a third love." "There she goes," said Tom, disconsolately. "Maude, I've told her I loved her a score of times, and she pooh-poohs me, and looks down upon me." "Of course," said Tryphie, pertly. "Is it not settled that I am to be Mrs Captain Bellman?" "Mrs Captain Bellman!" cried Tom, savagely. "Look here, Tryphie, I thought we had settled him, and now you bring him up again like an evil spirit in a play. I tell you what it is, if somebody does not shoot that great moustached scoundrel, I will." "What, such a handsome, gentlemanly man?" said Tryphie, sarcastically. "Handsome? Gentlemanly? The narrow-minded scoundrel! Look here, Tryphie, a man may do worse things than smoke cigars and play billiards. Damme, I can say I never caused a woman the heartache, or deceived my friend." "Are you sure, Tom?" said Tryphie, looking up at him with a melancholy droll expression upon her countenance. "Tryphie!" he cried, running to her, and catching her hand. "Get along, you silly boy," she cried, laughing; and he turned away with a look of annoyance, but Maude caught his arm.