, and your mother will
have everything ready for you. What on earth is there to hinder you?"

"I don't think I could go--not on the nineteenth of April."

"Well then, you must. I have taken your place, and Firkin expects you
at New York. They'll do everything for you there, and you'll find
quite a new life. I should have thought you'd have been delighted to
get away from your wretched condition here."

"It is wretched," said Tom; "but I'd rather not go quite so soon."

"Why not?"

"Well, then--"

"What is it, Tom? It makes me unhappy when I see you such a fool."

"I am a fool! I know I am a fool!"

"Then make a new start of it. Cut and run, and begin the world again.
You're young enough to forget all this."

"So I would, only--"

"Only what?"

"I suppose she is engaged to that man Stubbs! If I knew it for
certain then I would go. If I went before, I should only come back as
soon as I got to New York. If they were once married and it were all
done with I think I could make a new start."

In answer to this his father told him that he must go on the
nineteenth of April, whether Ayala were engaged or disengaged,
married or unmarried;--that his outfit would be bought, his cabin
would be ready, circular notes for his use would be prepared,
and everything would be arranged to make his prolonged tour as
comfortable as possible; but that if he did not start on that day
all the Tringle houses would be closed against him, and he would be
turned penniless out into the world. "You'll have to learn that I'm
in earnest," said Sir Thomas, as he turned his back and walked away.
Tom took himself off to reflect whether it would not be a grand thing
to be turned penniless out into the world,--and all for love!

By the early train on Monday Sir Thomas returned to London, having
taken little or no heed of Captain Batsby during his late visit to
the country. Even at Merle Park Captain Batsby's presence was less
important than it would otherwise have been to Lady Tringle and Mrs.
Traffick, because of the serious nature of Sir Thomas's decision as
to his son. Lady Tringle perhaps suspected something. Mrs. Traffick,
no doubt, had her own ideas as to her sister's position; but nothing
was said and nothing was done. Both on the Wednesday and on the
Thursday Lady Tringle went up to town to give the required orders on
Tom's behalf. On the Thursday her elder daughter accompanied her, and
returned with her in the evening. On their arr