Mr. Wesden rubbed the back of his ear, stared hard over Maurice's head at the opposite wall, till Maurice looked behind him to see what was nailed up there; wound up by an emphatic "Humph!" when Maurice had concluded. "Therefore, you see I was not so very much to blame, sir--that is, that there were at least extenuating circumstances." "Were they, though?" "Why, surely I have proved that?" "Can't say you have--can't say that I plainly see it at all. But, then, I haven't so clear a head as I used to have--oh! not by a long way!" "I hope at least you understand that I am heartily ashamed of my past conduct?" "I am glad to hear that, sir." "I have become a different man." "Been in a reformatory, perhaps?" suggested Mr. Wesden. "I have found my reformatory in the world." "Lucky for you." "And the fact is, that as I have always loved your daughter--as only my own wicked impulse turned your daughter's heart away from me, I have come from abroad with the hope of making all the restitution in my power, by offering her my hand and fortune!" "Have you, though?" Mr. Wesden stared harder than ever at this piece of information. Maurice took another glance over his shoulder, and then commenced a second series of explanations, speaking of his position and means, two things to which Mr. Wesden had been never indifferent. "I don't know that it would be a bad thing for her," said Mr. Wesden; "she never talked to me about her love affairs--girls never do to their fathers--and very likely I haven't understood her all this time." "Very likely not." "Perhaps it is about you, and not the other one that has altered her so much. Any nonsense alters a woman, if she dwells upon it." "Ahem!--exactly so." "You may as well wait till she comes in now," said Mr. Wesden; "that's business." "Sir, I am obliged to you." "If you don't mind a pipe, I'll think it over myself, and you need not talk any more just at present. We don't have much talk in this house, and you've rather _gallied_ me, Mr. Hinchford." "Any commands I will attend to with pleasure."