The father was found in a small closet to one side, and the smell of spirits allowed no doubt as to his condition. Georgiana stood over the man, who was audibly fast asleep in his unwashed, unmended shirt and trousers. It required several prods with the point of her boot to rouse him. When he was at last disturbed, he rose shouting and swearing for his wife, and threatening everyone within hearing, if he were not immediately brought food and drink. Georgiana waited for the disgraceful tirade to subside, and then addressed him:

“Mr. Vale, please wake up. I am come to take Betsey away. Here is ten pounds. I believe that is a fair exchange, do you agree?”

Mr. Vale seemed wholly unconscious that there was another person in the room until he heard the phrase “ten pounds.” He shook off what remained of his stupor and asked with many oaths who she was and why she was in “his house,” “his castle,” and continued some minutes to declaim loudly and insensibly about “the rights of an Englishman.” Hearing no change of discourse for several repetitions of the like, and fearing that Betsey would not be long able to bear the shouts of her father and remain where she was, she drew herself up, standing as tall as she could in the tiny garret, and talking in a voice with such force and authority as would have amazed all her acquaintance, Georgiana repeated loudly,

“Mr. Vale, here is ten pounds. I am come to take Betsey away. If you do not agree right now, and sit up and take this note, I will take Betsey, and you shall not have the ten pounds. Do you understand me, Mr. Vale?”

At that, Mr. Vale sat up sharply and grabbed for the note. He was in no condition to act more quickly than could Georgiana, who pulled her hand holding the note back sharply and, looking at him with a stern and steady look, said, “This is the last time I shall ask you, Mr. Vale. Do you agree that I may take Betsey away?”

Mr. Vale’s countenance changed in the space of a second from wrath to an appalling self-pity. He said, “Ma’am if you please, let me have that, and another one f’me poor wife fer bread.”

Georgiana simply stood over him and repeated her question very loudly, “Do you agree, Mr. Vale?” In the space of time it took him to look at her tall, white figure, Georgiana reflected that he must think her an Amazon, and, she answered herself, “and I have every intention that he should.”