'Now,' said Dick, 'I must go.'

'Go?' cried Van Tromp. 'Where? Not one foot, Mr. Richard

Naseby. Here you shall stay in the meantime! and - well, and

do something practical - advertise for a situation as private

secretary - and when you have it, go and welcome. But in the

meantime, sir, no false pride; we must stay with our friends;

we must sponge a while on Papa Van Tromp, who has sponged so

often upon us.'

'By God,' cried Dick, 'I believe you are the best of the

lot.'

'Dick, my boy,' replied the Admiral, winking, 'you mark me, I

am not the worst.'

'Then why,' began Dick, and then paused. 'But Esther,' he

began again, once more to interrupt himself. 'The fact is,

Admiral,' he came out with it roundly now, 'your daughter

wished to run away from you to-day, and I only brought her

back with difficulty.'

'In the pony carriage?' asked the Admiral, with the silliness

of extreme surprise.

'Yes,' Dick answered.

235

Tales and Fantasies