Sir Wycherly heard and understood all that passed, and it did not fail to produce an impression, even in the state to which he was reduced.

Kind-hearted, and indisposed to injure even a fly, all the natural feelings of the old man resumed their ascendency, and he would gladly have given every shilling of his funded property to be able freely to express his compunction at having ever uttered a syllable that could offend sensibilities so noble and generous.

But this exceeded his powers, and he was fain to do the best he could, in the painful situation in which he was placed.
"Noble fellow!" he stuttered out; "honour to name--come here--Sir Gervaise--bring here--" "I believe it is the wish of Sir Wycherly, that you would draw near the bed, Mr.Wychecombe of _Virginia_," said the vice-admiral, pithily, though he extended a hand to, and smiled kindly on, the youth as the latter passed him in compliance.
The sick man now succeeded, with a good deal of difficulty, in drawing a valuable signet-ring from a finger .-- This ring bore the Wychecombe arms, engraved on it.

It was without the bloody hand, however; for it was far older than the order of baronets, having, as Wycherly well knew, been given by one of the Plantagenet Dukes to an ancestor of the family, during the French wars of Henry VI., and that, too, in commemoration of some signal act of gallantry in the field.
"Wear this--noble fellow--honour to name," said Sir Wycherly.

"_Must_ be descended--all Wychecombes descended--him--" "I thank you, Sir Wycherly, for this present, which I prize as it ought to be prized," said Wycherly, every trace of any other feeling than that of gratitude having vanished from his countenance.