“You can’t, eh? Well, come here, sir,” continued old Sir Andrew, entering the parlour again, and dancing about into every corner of it; “you can’t, eh? Then read _that_, sir,” said he, throwing down the letter, “read _that_, sir, and then get out of my house as quickly as possible.” “Lost?” gasped Phillip. “Lost, aye, lost! So are _you_, and so am _I_, and so are _all_ of us lost—down to the bottom, among the silks and teas.” “This news, sir, is astounding!” said Phillip, looking very pale, and biting his nails. “The Skeleton Crew did it, eh? This almost unmans me, Sir Andrew.” “_Does_ it? Well, then, sir, what must _I_ feel, who have to bear nearly all the loss? You’ll oblige me, Phillip Redgill, by getting that money of yours together—I’ll stand no more delays. And I’d thank you never to set foot in my house again.” “Really, Sir Andrew, your conduct is inexplicable! I came to see your daughter, my——” “You _did_, did you? Ha, ha! he, he! But let me tell you, sir, that _before_ she should be _your_ wife, I would rather see her in——.” “Sir Andrew, dear,” interrupted Lady McTurk, getting in between the two angry gentlemen. “Husband, dear, be calm, I pray!” “Go away, wife, I know what I’m saying well enough. And let me tell you, sir, that I do not want the honour of your presence in my premises any longer; I don’t allow penniless, good-for-nothing vagabonds to prowl around _my_ house! Come to court my daughter, eh? Ha, ha! Whoever heard of such a thing? What _next_, I wonder?” “I do not come to _court_ your daughter, sir; I come to claim her as my——” “Capital! capital! To claim her as your——Ah, ah! capital! capital! Who ever heard of such impudence in all their life?” said Sir Andrew, dancing about like a half-crazed monkey. “Get out of my house, sir, I tell you for the last time—get out, or I’ll kick you out!” And acting up to his words, he was about to put his threat into execution, when Fanny, his daughter, rushed upon the scene, blooming in paints, crinoline, and flowers. “Father, dear, hear me!” she said, falling on her knees between her parent and Phillip. “Hear me, father, dear! Pity me! pardon him if he has offended you! For _my_ sake, forgive—pardon my—my—_husband_! Father, dear, I—am—his—_wife_!” “His _what_?” gasped Sir Andrew, as if shot, looking first at his daughter and then at Phillip. “His what, did you say?” “His _wife_, father dear. Pardon me, I am his _wife_!” Sir Andrew looked at Phillip for a moment with an eye full of devilish meaning. That young gentleman advanced a few steps, and said very coolly, “Wife! Yes, Sir Andrew, my wife! If you doubt it, read that,” he added, throwing down on the table the marriage certificate. Sir Andrew glanced at it for a second with a quivering lip, then sank upon the sofa, and groaned with the intense weight of agony oppressing him.