But here poor patient Bessie interposed, not angrily; she carried her blind idolatry of her profligate husband to the extent of wishing him to be pleased--_coute qui coute_; but the owner of the house, a person of strict principles, had spoken seriously to her about the Colonel’s free manner with her maidens, so, to avoid a greater annoyance to her big, spoiled, selfish tyrant, the self-sacrificing Bessie suggested that Polly had better be allowed to “take away” in peace. The operation, however, being over, the Colonel returned to the charge, namely, the letter to his daughter, which he had so much at heart. As regarded Honor’s probable discomfort in the attic which, in Stanwick-street, she would be condemned to occupy, he had an argument all ready for his use. Honor was passionately fond of riding, and, as Arthur Vavasour had told him, could ride both boldly and gracefully. Now, the parsimony which was conspicuous in the Tyburnian lodging did not pervade--and, indeed, might be said to be in some measure the consequence of extravagance in--other branches of Colonel Norcott’s expenditure. He kept two horses--_screws_ in reality, though producing a good effect in the eyes of the uninitiated--on the remnant of poor Bessie’s overrated fortune. On one of these horses it was his purpose, should he be so fortunate as to obtain Mr. Beacham’s consent to his wife’s visit, to mount the beautiful girl (for _girl_ in appearance and manner Honor still was) in the Park, and among the crowds whom her unprincipled father nothing doubted would do due homage to her loveliness. “It is all nonsense about her being uncomfortable,” he said decidedly. “What does a fine, handsome, healthy girl care about discomfort? Honor will like to see a little of life: why, she has never--you would hardly believe in such absurdity--seen a play or an opera in her life! And she is deuced fond of music, and sings, Vavasour says, like--like anything. So now sit down, there’s a good soul, and write the letter. You must make me out devilish seedy, and all that kind of thing. See how well you can do it, now;” and he patted her broad, bony shoulders with a fascinating semblance of affection that Bessie, even under still less auspicious circumstances, would have found it impossible to withstand. She was about, under that delightful compulsion, to commit a very unworthy act, but “the _man_ beguiled” her; and Mrs. Frederick Norcott, not for the first time, laid aside for the Colonel’s sake her lingering scruples, and did as she was bid. CHAPTER XVI. JOHN DECIDES AGAINST HIMSELF.