apital income, which, out of delicacy, they have left her for her life,
and the mode she takes to acknowledge the favor is by avoiding to meet
them."

"And what more natural!" broke in the lady's voice. "Can she possibly
forget that they have despoiled her of her title, her station, her very
name? In her place, I feel I should have done exactly the same."

"That's true," burst out the younger man. "Lizzy is right. But for them,
Georgina had still been the Viscountess Lackington."

"_You_ have a right to feel it that way," laughed out the short man,
scornfully. "You are both in the same boat as herself, only that they
have n't left _you_ twelve hundred per annum!"

"I hear a boat now; yes, I can mark the sound of the oars," said the
lady.

"What a jolly change would a good squall now make in your fortunes!"
said the short man. "A puff of wind and a few gallons of water are small
things to stand between a man and twelve thousand a year!"

The suggestion did not seem to find favor with the others, for they made
no reply.

"You never sent off your letter, I think?" resumed he, addressing the
younger man.

"Of course not, father," broke in the female voice. "It was an indignity
I could not stoop to."

"Not stoop to?" cried out Grog, for it is needless to say that it was
himself, with his daughter and son-in-law, who formed the group. "I like
that,--I like our not stooping when it's crawling we 're come to!"

"Ay, by Jove!" muttered Beecher, ruefully, "that it is, and over a rough
road too!"

"Well, I'd have sent the letter," resumed Grog. "I'd have put it this
way: 'You did n't deal harshly with the Dowager; don't treat _us_ worse
than _her_.'"

"Father, father!" cried Lizzy, imploringly, "how unlike you all this
is!"

"I know it is, girl,--I know it well enough. Since that six months I
passed in Newgate I don't know myself. I 'm not the man I was, nor
I never shall be again. That same dull life and its dreary diet have
broken up old Grog." A heavy sigh closed these words, and for some
minutes the silence was unbroken.

"There comes a boat up to the landing-place," cried Beecher, suddenly.

"I must see them, and I will," said Lizzy, rising, and drawing her shawl
around her. "I have more than a mere curiosity to see this Crimean hero
and his heroic wife." It was hard to say in what spirit the words were
uttered, so blended was the ardor and the sarcasm in their tone. "Are
you coming, father?"

"I--no. No