"Go on, I have heard of him, an old shipbuilder."
"He made his fortune in shipbuilding," said Mrs. Sharland. "He has laid by a good deal of money, and is a free and liberal man with it, among his near relatives."
"Curse him," growled Elijah, "he let you have the money?
"I sent Mehalah to my cousin Charles, to ask him to lend me a trifle, being for a moment inconvenienced," said Mrs. Sharland with stateliness.
"She—Glory—went cringing for money to an old shipbuilder!" exclaimed Rebow with fury in his face.
"She did not like doing so," answered the widow, "but I entreated her to put her prejudices in her pocket, and do as I wished. You see. Master Rebow, this was not like asking strangers. Charles is my cousin, my nearest living relative, and some day, perhaps, there is no knowing" she winked, and nodded, and ruffled up in her pride. "We are his nearest of kin, and he is an old man, much older than I am. I am young compared to him, and he is half-paralysed."
"He gave the money without any difficulty or demur?" asked Elijah, his face flaming.
"He was most willing, anxious, I may say, to help. You see. Master Rebow, he is well off, and has no other relatives. He is a man of fortune, and has a gilt balcony before his house, and a real sofa in his sitting-room. His name is engraved on brass on a plate on the door, it commands respect and receives honour at the Colchester Bank."
"So you are fawning on him, are you?" growled Elijah.
"He has real oil-paintings on his walls. There's some in water-colours, and some in worsted work, but I make no count of them, but real oils, you know; there's something to think of in that. A man don't break out into oil unless he has money in the bank at command."
Mrs. Sharland was delighted with the opportunity of airing her re-discovered cousin, and exalting his splendour before someone other than her daughter.
"A valance all round his bed—there's luxury!" said the widow, "and that bed a whole tester. As for his
