“Oh!  I know what it cost,” replied Amber.  “I gave you threepence to pay for it.  Where is it?”

“If I recollect, it cost seven shillings and sixpence,” replied Nicholas, pulling out, not a skein of blue silk, but a yard of blue sarsenet.

“Now, papa, do look here!  Uncle Nicholas, I never will give you a commission again.  Is it not provoking?  I have seven shillings and sixpence to pay for a yard of blue sarsenet, which I do not want.  Uncle Nicholas, you really are very stupid.”

“Well, my dear, I suppose I am.  I heard William Aveleyn say the same, when I came into the room this morning, because—­let me see—­”

“You heard him say nothing, uncle,” interrupted Amber, colouring.

“Yes, I recollect now—­how stupid I was to come in when I was not wanted!”

“Humph!” said John Forster; and dinner was announced.

Since the recognition of Mrs Forster by her husband, she had presided at her brother-in-law’s table.  The dinner provided was excellent, and was done ample justice to by all parties, especially Nicholas, whose appetite appeared to increase from idleness.  Since Newton had left England he had remained a pensioner upon his brother; and, by dint of constant exertion on the part of Mrs Forster, had been drilled out of his propensity of interfering with either the watch or the spectacles.  This was all that was required by Mr John Forster; and Nicholas walked up and down the house, like a tame cat, minding nobody, and nobody paying any attention to him.

After dinner the ladies retired, and shortly afterwards William Aveleyn quitted the room.

Newton thought this to be a good opportunity to acquaint his uncle with his attachment to Miss Revel, and the favourable result.  Mr John Forster heard him without interruption.

“Very nice girl, I daresay, nephew, but you are too young to marry.  You can’t marry and go to sea.  Follow your profession, Newton; speculate in opium—­I’ll find the means.”

“I trust, sir, that I should never speculate in marrying:  but, had I acted on that plan, this would prove the best speculation of the two.  Miss Revel has a very large fortune.”

“So much the worse:  a man should never be indebted to his wife for his money—­they never forget it.  I’d rather you had fallen in love with a girl without a shilling.”

“Well, sir, when I first fell in love she had not a sixpence.”

“Humph!—­well, nephew, that may be very true; but, as I said before, follow your profession.”

“Marriage will not prevent my so doing, uncle.  Most captains of Indiamen are married men.”

“More fools they! leaving their wives at home to be flattered and fooled by the Lord knows who.  A wife, nephew is—­a woman.”

“I hope that mine will be one, sir,” replied Newton, laughing.

“Nephew, once for all, I don’t approve of your marrying now—–­that’s understood.  It’s my wish that you follow your profession.  I’ll be candid with you; I have left you the heir to most of my fortune; but—­I can alter my will.  If you marry this girl I shall do so.”