“I think, Master O’Loughlin,” said Agatha, with a smile, and shaking her finger at the captain, who immediately got possession of it, “I think you have been a rather giddy pair in the Cupid line; but I tell you what, I should like Sir Oscar to see our dear Mabel without knowing who she was; I would venture my hand, which, by-the-by, you are squeezing very hard—recollect my fingers are not ropes!” “No, faith, nor those ruby lips marlin spikes!” “Come,” interrupted Agatha, jumping up with cheeks like a peony; “it is time you should go to London. I am afraid you will make but a very bad commander.” “When I strike my colours to you, my sweet girl,” said the gallant Captain, gaily, “my commandership ceases; from that time I obey, not command.” CHAPTER XVII. Lady Etherton sincerely and deeply deplored the loss of her husband, for she really loved him; to her, his faults were in a measure hidden. But, alas, this was not the case with his daughters. A show of grief and an elaborate display in mourning was paraded before the world, but in their hearts they felt themselves emancipated from a restraint they styled tyranny. The girls fancied they would now be permitted to mix more with the world, and that after a time Etherton Hall would be filled with gay guests, and that their brother Howard would let them do as they liked. But a very short time proved to the five girls that they had woefully miscalculated. The new baronet was a man of an infinitely worse temper and disposition than his sire, and, for one so young, was penurious to a degree; and so haughty and arrogant in manners and words, that the domestics, in comparing notes, really found that they had been very unjust towards the deceased baronet, who, compared to his son, was really an amiable man. The late baronet had kept up a handsome establishment, and, though particular and careful in his expenditure, he lived as became his rank and wealth. His successor diminished the establishment. Lady Etherton had a handsome jointure, but her daughters were, strange to say, left almost to the mercy of the brother. They each had a female attendant, and the two eldest had saddle-horses kept for their special use. Sir Howard having deliberately dismissed three of the female attendants, and sold the saddle-horses, and clipped various other sinecures, as he styled them, on the plea that the estate was greatly encumbered by the extravagance of his elder brother, told his sisters that if they expected fortunes, they would be very small ones, unless they economised at home. Lady Etherton remonstrated, and, after six months’ trial of her son’s mode of management, left Etherton Hall, and went with her favourite daughter to Bath; where, having an income of twelve hundred a-year, she lived remarkably well, and enjoyed society.