“My dear, in laying down that office which your amiable nature has rendered so agreeable, I feel a natural regret on your account that the property my colleague there and I have had to deal with on your account has not been more important. However, as far as it goes, we have been fortunate. Consols have risen amazingly since we took you off land and funded you. The rise in value of your little capital since your mother's death is calculated on this card. You have, also, some loose cash, which I will hand over to you immediately. Let me see--eleven hundred and sixty pounds and five shillings. Write your name in full on that paper, Lucy.” He touched a bell; a servant came. He wrote a line and folded it, inclosing Lucy's signature. “Let this go to Mr. Hardie's bank immediately. Hardie will give you three per cent for your money. Better than nothing. You must have a check-book. He sent me a new one yesterday. Here it is; you shall have it. I wonder whether you know how to draw a check?” “No, uncle.” “Look here, then. You note the particulars first on this counter-foil, which thus serves in some degree for an account-book. In drawing the check, place the sum in letters close to these printed words, and the sum in figures close to the pound. For want of this precaution, the holder of the check has been known to turn a 10 pound check into 110 pounds.” “Oh how wicked!” “Mind what you say. Dexterity is the only virtue left in England; so we must be on our guard, especially in what we write with our name attached.” “I must say, Mr. Bazalgette, you are unwise to put such a sum of money into a young girl's hands.” “The young girl has been a woman an hour and ten minutes, and come into her property, movables, and cash aforesaid.” “If you were her real friend, you would take care of her money for her till she marries.” “The eighth commandment, my dear, the eighth commandment, and other primitive axioms: _suum cuique,_ and such odd sayings: 'Him as keeps what isn't hisn, soon or late shall go to prison,' with similar apothegms. Total: let us keep the British merchant and the Newgate thief as distinct as the times permit. Fountain and Bazalgette, account squared, books closed, and I'm off!” “Oh, uncle, pray stay!” said Lucy. “When you are by me, Rectitude and Sense seem present in person, and I can lean on them.”