CHAPTER VIII.
MEANTIME Mr.Oldfield began to tell the admiral who he was, and that he was come to remove a false impression about a client of his, Sir Charles Bassett.
"That, sir," said the admiral, sternly, "is a name we never mention here." He rose and went to the folding-doors, and deliberately closed them.
The Somerset, thus defeated, bit her lip, and sat all of a heap, like a cat about to spring, looking sulky and vicious.
Mr.Oldfield persisted, and, as he took the admiral's hint and lowered his voice, he was interrupted no more, but made a simple statement of those facts which are known to the reader.
Admiral Bruce heard them, and admitted that the case was not quite so bad as he had thought.
Then Mr.Oldfield proposed that Sir Charles should be re-admitted.
"No," said the old admiral, firmly; "turn it how you will, it is too ugly; the bloom of the thing is gone.

Why should my daughter take that woman's leavings?
Why should I give her pure heart to a man about town ?" "Because you will break it else," said Miss Somerset, with affected politeness.
"Give her credit for more dignity, madam, if you please," replied Admiral Bruce, with equal politeness.
"Oh, bother dignity!" cried the Somerset.
At this free phrase from so well-dressed a lady Admiral Bruce opened his eyes, and inquired of Oldfield, rather satirically, who was this lady that did him the honor to interfere in his family affairs.
Oldfield looked confused; but Somerset, full of mother-wit, was not to be caught napping.

"I'm a by-stander; and they always see clearer than the folk themselves.

You are a man of honor, sir, and you are very clever at sea, no doubt, and a fighter, and all that; but you are no match for land-sharks.

You are being made a dupe and a tool of.