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ON HIS WAY THROUGH THE WORLD 233
don't know what you're come about. I don't want to know, and
I'm most certain it is for no good."
I suppose it was the ill success of his ambassador that brought
Mr. Bond himself to Thornhaugh Street ; and a more kind fatherly
little man never looked than Mr. Bond, although he may have
had one eye smaller than the other. "What is this, my dear
madam, I hear from my confidential clerk, Mr. Walls ?" he asked
of the Little Sister. "You refuse to give him your confidence
because he is only a clerk ? I wonder whether you will accord it
to me as a principal ?"
" She may, sir, she may—every confidence !" says the Captain,
laying his hand on that snuffy satin waistcoat which all his friends
so long admired on him. " She might have spoken to Mr. Walls."
" Mr. Walls is not a family man. I am. I have children at
home, Mrs. Brandon, as old as you are," says the benevolent
Bond. " I would have justice done them, and for you too."
" You're very good to take so much trouble about me all of a
sudden, to be sure," says Mrs. Brandon demurely. " I suppose you
don't do it for nothing."
" I should not require much fee to help a good woman to her
rights; and a lady I don't think needs much persuasion to be
helped to her advantage," remarks Mr. Bond.
" That depends who the helper is."
" Well, if I can do you no harm, and help you possibly to a
name, to a fortune, to a high place in the world, I don't think you
need be frightened. I don't look very wicked or very artful, do I ?"
" Many is that don't look so. I've learned as much as that
about you gentlemen," remarks Mrs. Brandon.
" You have been wronged by one man, and doubt all."
" Not all. Some, sir !"
" Doubt about me if I can by any possibility injure you. But
how and why should I ? Your good father knows what has brought
me here. I have no secret from him. Have I, Mr. Gann, or
Captain Gann, as I have heard you addressed ?"
"Mr., sir—plain Mr.—No, sir; your conduct have been most
open, honourable, and like a gentleman. Neither would you, sir,
do aught to disparage Mrs. Brandon ; neither would I, her father.
No ways, I think, would a parent do harm to his own child. May
I offer you any refreshment, sir ?" and a shaky, a dingy, but an
hospitable hand, is laid upon the glossy cupboard, in which Mrs.
Brandon keeps her modest little store of strong waters.
" Not one drop, thank you ! You trust me, I think, more than
Mrs. Firm—I beg your pardon—Mrs. Brandon is disposed to do."
At the utterance of that monosyllable Firm Caroline became so