e loss of the little I have to depend on, is the
least part of it. He may not see his injustice in doubting me, till too
late; but he _shall_ see it."

"I beg your pardon, Basil; but this is almost as great an insanity,
as the insanity of your marriage. I honour the independence of your
principle, my dear fellow; but, while I am to the fore, I'll take good
care that you don't ruin yourself gratuitously, for the sake of any
principles whatever! Just listen to me, now. In the first place,
remember that what my father said to you, he said in a moment of violent
exasperation. You had been trampling the pride of his life in the mud:
no man likes that--my father least of any. And, as for the offer of your
poor little morsel of an income to stop these people's greedy mouths,
it isn't a quarter enough for them. They know our family is a wealthy
family; and they will make their demand accordingly. Any other
sacrifice, even to taking the girl back (though you never could bring
yourself to do that!), would be of no earthly use. Nothing but money
will do; money cunningly doled out, under the strongest possible
stipulations. Now, I'm just the man to do that, and I have got the
money--or, rather, my father has, which comes to the same thing. Write
me the fellow's name and address; there's no time to be lost--I'm off to
see him at once!"

"I can't allow you, Ralph, to ask my father for what I would not ask him
myself--"

"Give me the name and address, or you will sour my excellent temper for
the rest of my life. Your obstinacy won't do with _me,_ Basil--it didn't
at school, and it won't now. I shall ask my father for money for myself;
and use as much of it as I think proper for your interests. He'll
give me anything I want, now I have turned good boy. I don't owe fifty
pounds, since my last debts were paid off--thanks to Mrs. Ralph, who
is the most managing woman in the world. By-the-bye, when you see her,
don't seem surprised at her being older than I am. Oh! this is the
address, is it? Hollyoake Square? Where the devil's that! Never mind,
I'll take a cab, and shift the responsibility of finding the place on
the driver. Keep up your spirits, and wait here till I come back. You
shall have such news of Mr. Shopkeeper and his daughter as you little
expect! _Au revoir,_ my dear fellow--_au revoir._"

He left the room as rapidly as he had entered it. The minute afterwards,
I remembered that I ought to have warned him of the fatal illn