Wycherly was conversing, earnestly, with Mrs.Dutton and Mildred, at the far end of the hall, when the baronets appeared; but, catching the eye of the admiral, he said a few words hastily to his companions, and joined the two gentlemen, who were now on their way to the sick man's chamber.
"Here is a namesake, if not a relative, Sir Reginald," observed Sir Gervaise, introducing the lieutenant; "and one, I rejoice to say, of whom all of even your honourable name have reason to be proud." Sir Reginald's bow was courteous and bland, as the admiral proceeded to complete the introduction; but Wycherly felt that the keen, searching look he bestowed on himself, was disagreeable.
"I am not at all aware, that I have the smallest claim to the honour of being Sir Reginald Wychecombe's relative," he said, with cold reserve.
"Indeed, until last evening, I was ignorant of the existence of the Hertfordshire branch of this family; and you will remember, Sir Gervaise, that I am a Virginian." "A Virginian!" exclaimed his namesake, taken so much by surprise as to lose a little of his self-command, "I did not know, indeed, that any who bear the name had found their way to the colonies." "And if they had, sir, they would have met with a set of fellows every way fit to be their associates, Sir Reginald.

We English are a little clannish--I hate the word, too; it has such a narrow Scotch sound--but we _are_ clannish, although generally provided with garments to our nether limbs; and we sometimes look down upon even a son, whom the love of adventure has led into that part of the world.

In my view an Englishman is an Englishman, let him come from what part of the empire he may.

That is what I call genuine liberality, Sir Reginald." "Quite true, Sir Gervaise; and a Scotchman is a Scotchman, even though he come from the north of Tweed." This was quietly said, but the vice-admiral felt the merited rebuke it contained, and he had the good-nature and the good sense to laugh at it, and to admit his own prejudices.

This little encounter brought the party to Sir Wycherly's door, where all three remained until it was ascertained that they might enter.
The next quarter of an hour brought about a great change in the situation of all the principal inmates of Wychecombe Hall.