owningenuity
.
But
yet
he
did
not
meditate
murder
.
"
Beastly
old
idiot
!
"
he
said
to
himself
,
"
he
must
have
his
chance
as
other
men
have
,
I
suppose
,
"
And
then
he
went
across
Regent
Street
to
Mr.
Scruby
's
office
in
Great
Marlborough
Street
,
not
having
,
as
yet
,
come
to
any
positive
conclusion
as
to
what
he
would
do
in
reference
to
Alice
's
money
.
But
he
soon
found
himself
talking
to
Mr.
Scruby
as
though
there
were
no
doubts
as
to
the
forthcoming
funds
for
the
next
elections
.
And
Mr.
Scruby
talked
to
him
very
plainly
,
as
though
those
funds
must
be
forthcoming
before
long
.
"
A
stitch
in
time
saves
nine
,
"
said
Mr.
Scruby
,
meaning
to
insinuate
that
a
pound
in
time
might
have
the
same
effect
.
"
And
I
'll
tell
you
what
,
Mr.
Vavasor
,
—
of
course
I
've
my
outstanding
bills
for
the
last
affair
.
That
's
no
fault
of
yours
,
for
the
things
came
so
sharp
one
on
another
that
my
fellows
have
n't
had
time
to
make
it
out
.
But
if
you
'll
put
me
in
funds
for
what
I
must
be
out
of
pocket
in
June
—
"
"
Will
it
be
so
soon
as
June
?
"
"
They
are
talking
of
June
.
Why
,
then
,
I
'll
lump
the
two
bills
together
when
it
's
all
over
.
"
In
their
discussion
respecting
money
Mr.
Scruby
injudiciously
mentioned
the
name
of
Mr.
Tombe
.
No
precise
caution
had
been
given
to
him
,
but
he
had
become
aware
that
the
matter
was
being
managed
through
an
agency
that
was
not
recognized
by
his
client
;
and
as
that
agency
was
simply
a
vehicle
of
money
which
found
its
way
into
Mr.
Scruby
's
pocket
,
he
should
have
held
his
tongue
.
But
Mr.
Tombe
's
name
escaped
from
him
,
and
Vavasor
immediately
questioned
him
.
Scruby
,
who
did
not
often
make
such
blunders
,
readily
excused
himself
,
shaking
his
head
,
and
declaring
that
the
name
had
fallen
from
his
lips
instead
of
that
of
another
man
.
Vavasor
accepted
the
excuse
without
further
notice
,
and
nothing
more
was
said
about
Mr.
Tombe
while
he
was
in
Mr.
Scruby
's
office
.
But
he
had
not
heard
the
name
in
vain
,
and
had
unfortunately
heard
it
before
.
Mr.
Tombe
was
a
remarkable
man
in
his
way
.
He
wore
powder
to
his
hair
,
—
was
very
polite
in
his
bearing
,
—
was
somewhat
asthmatic
,
and
wheezed
in
his
talking
,
—
and
was
,
moreover
,
the
most
obedient
of
men
,
though
it
was
said
of
him
that
he
managed
the
whole
income
of
the
Ely
Chapter
just
as
he
pleased
.
Being
in
these
ways
a
man
of
note
,
John
Grey
had
spoken
of
him
to
Alice
,
and
his
name
had
filtered
through
Alice
and
her
cousin
Kate
to
George
Vavasor
.
George
seldom
forgot
things
or
names
,
and
when
he
heard
Mr.
Tombe
's
name
mentioned
in
connection
with
his
own
money
matters
,
he
remembered
that
Mr.
Tombe
was
John
Grey
's
lawyer
.
As
soon
as
he
could
escape
out
into
the
street
he
endeavoured
to
put
all
these
things
together
,
and
after
a
while
resolved
that
he
would
go
to
Mr.
Tombe
.
What
if
there
should
be
an
understanding
between
John
Grey
and
Alice
,
and
Mr.
Tombe
should
be
arranging
his
money
matters
for
him
!
Would
not
anything
be
better
than
this
,
—
even
that
little
tragedy
down
in
Westmoreland
,
for
which
his
ingenuity
and
courage
would
be
required
?
He
could
endure
to
borrow
money
from
Alice
.
He
might
even
endure
it
still
,
—
though
that
was
very
difficult
after
her
treatment
of
him
;
but
he
could
not
endure
to
be
the
recipient
of
John
Grey
's
money
.
By
heavens
,
no
!
And
as
he
got
into
a
cab
,
and
had
himself
driven
off
to
the
neighbourhood
of
Doctors
'
Commons
,
he
gave
himself
credit
for
much
fine
manly
feeling
.
Mr.
Tombe
's
chambers
were
found
without
difficulty
,
and
,
as
it
happened
,
Mr.
Tombe
was
there
.
The
lawyer
rose
from
his
chair
as
Vavasor
entered
,
and
bowed
his
powdered
head
very
meekly
as
he
asked
his
visitor
to
sit
down
.
"
Mr.
Vavasor
;
—
oh
,
yes
.
He
had
heard
the
name
.
Yes
;
he
was
in
the
habit
of
acting
for
his
very
old
friend
Mr.
John
Grey
.
He
had
acted
for
Mr.
John
Grey
,
and
for
Mr.
John
Grey
's
father
,
—
he
or
his
partner
,
—
he
believed
he
might
say
,
for
about
half
a
century
.
There
could
not
be
a
nicer
gentleman
than
Mr.
John
Grey
;
—
and
such
a
pretty
child
as
he
used
to
be
!
"
At
every
new
sentence
Mr.
Tombe
caught
his
poor
asthmatic
breath
,
and
bowed
his
meek
old
head
,
and
rubbed
his
hands
together
as
though
he
hardly
dared
to
keep
his
seat
in
Vavasor
's
presence
without
the
support
of
some
such
motion
;
and
wheezed
apologetically
,
and
seemed
to
ask
pardon
of
his
visitor
for
not
knowing
intuitively
what
was
the
nature
of
that
visitor
's
business
.
But
he
was
a
sly
old
fox
was
Mr.
Tombe
,
and
was
considering
all
this
time
how
much
it
would
be
well
that
he
should
tell
Mr.
Vavasor
,
and
how
much
it
would
be
well
that
he
should
conceal
.
"
The
fat
had
got
into
the
fire
,
"
as
he
told
his
old
wife
when
he
got
home
that
evening
.
He
told
his
old
wife
everything
,
and
I
do
n't
know
that
any
of
his
clients
were
the
worse
for
his
doing
so
.
But
while
he
was
wheezing
,
and
coughing
,
and
apologizing
,
he
made
up
his
mind
that
if
George
Vavasor
were
to
ask
him
certain
questions
,
it
would
be
best
that
he
should
answer
them
truly
.
If
Vavasor
did
ask
those
questions
,
he
would
probably
do
so
upon
certain
knowledge
,
and
if
so
,
why
,
in
that
case
,
lying
would
be
of
no
use
.
Lying
would
not
put
the
fat
back
into
the
frying
pan
.
And
even
though
such
questions
might
be
asked
without
any
absolute
knowledge
,
they
would
,
at
any
rate
,
show
that
the
questioner
had
the
means
of
ascertaining
the
truth
.
He
would
tell
as
little
as
he
could
;
but
he
decided
during
his
last
wheeze
,
that
he
could
not
lie
in
the
matter
with
any
chance
of
benefiting
his
client
.
"
The
prettiest
child
I
ever
saw
,
Mr.
Vavasor
!
"
said
Mr.
Tombe
,
and
then
he
coughed
violently
.
Some
people
who
knew
Mr.
Tombe
declared
that
he
nursed
his
cough
.
"
I
dare
say
,
"
said
George
.
"
Yes
,
indeed
,
—
ugh
—
ugh
—
ugh
.
"
"
Can
you
tell
me
,
Mr.
Tombe
,
whether
either
you
or
he
have
anything
to
do
with
the
payment
of
certain
sums
to
my
credit
at
Messrs.
Hock
and
Block
's
?
"
"
Messrs.
Hock
and
Block
's
,
the
bankers
,
—
in
Lom
—
bard
Street
?
"
said
Mr.
Tombe
,
taking
a
little
more
time
.
"
Yes
;
I
bank
there
,
"
said
Vavasor
,
sharply
.
"
A
most
respectable
house
.
"
"
Has
any
money
been
paid
there
to
my
credit
,
by
you
,
Mr.
Tombe
?
"
"
May
I
ask
you
why
you
put
the
question
to
me
,
Mr.
Vavasor
?
"
"
Well
,
I
do
n't
think
you
may
.
That
is
to
say
,
my
reason
for
asking
it
can
have
nothing
to
do
with
yours
for
replying
to
it
.
If
you
have
had
no
hand
in
any
such
payment
,
there
is
an
end
of
it
,
and
I
need
not
take
up
your
time
by
saying
anything
more
on
the
subject
.
"
"
I
am
not
prepared
to
go
that
length
,
Mr.
Vavasor
,
—
not
altogether
to
go
that
length
,
—
ugh
—
ugh
—
ugh
.
"
"
Then
,
will
you
tell
me
what
you
have
done
in
the
matter
?
"
"
Well
,
—
upon
my
word
,
you
've
taken
me
a
little
by
surprise
.
Let
me
see
.
Pinkle
,
—
Pinkle
.
"
Pinkle
was
a
clerk
who
sat
in
an
inner
room
,
and
Mr.
Tombe
's
effort
to
call
him
seemed
to
be
most
ineffectual
.
But
Pinkle
understood
the
sound
,
and
came
.
"
Pinkle
,
did
n't
we
pay
some
money
into
Hock
and
Block
's
a
few
weeks
since
,
to
the
credit
of
Mr.
George
Vavasor
?
"
"
Did
we
,
sir
?
"
said
Pinkle
,
who
probably
knew
that
his
employer
was
an
old
fox
,
and
who
,
perhaps
,
had
caught
something
of
the
fox
nature
himself
.
"
I
think
we
did
.
Just
look
Pinkle
;
—
and
,
Pinkle
,
—
see
the
date
,
and
let
me
know
all
about
it
.
It
's
fine
bright
weather
for
this
time
of
year
,
Mr.
Vavasor
;
but
these
easterly
winds
!
—
ugh
—
ugh
—
ugh
!
"
Vavasor
found
himself
sitting
for
an
apparently
interminable
number
of
minutes
in
Mr.
Tombe
's
dingy
chamber
,
and
was
coughed
at
,
and
wheezed
at
,
till
he
begun
to
be
tired
of
his
position
;
moreover
,
when
tired
,
he
showed
his
impatience
.
"
Perhaps
you
'll
let
us
write
you
a
line
when
we
have
looked
into
the
matter
?
"
suggested
Mr.
Tombe
.
"
I
'd
rather
know
at
once
,
"
said
Vavasor
.
"
I
do
n't
suppose
it
can
take
you
very
long
to
find
out
whether
you
have
paid
money
to
my
account
,
by
order
of
Mr.
Grey
.
At
any
rate
,
I
must
know
before
I
go
away
.
"
"
Pinkle
,
Pinkle
!
"
screamed
the
old
man
through
his
coughing
;
and
again
Pinkle
came
.
"
Well
,
Pinkle
,
was
anything
of
the
kind
done
,
or
is
my
memory
deceiving
me
?
"
Mr.
Tombe
was
,
no
doubt
,
lying
shamefully
,
for
,
of
course
,
he
remembered
all
about
it
;
and
,
indeed
,
George
Vavasor
had
learned
already
quite
enough
for
his
own
purposes
.
"
I
was
going
to
look
,
"
said
Pinkle
;
and
Pinkle
again
went
away
.
"
I
'm
sorry
to
give
your
clerk
so
much
trouble
,
"
said
Vavasor
,
in
an
angry
voice
;
"
and
I
think
it
must
be
unnecessary
.
Surely
you
know
whether
Mr.
Grey
has
commissioned
you
to
pay
money
for
me
?
"
"
We
have
so
many
things
to
do
,
Mr.
Vavasor
;
and
so
many
clients
.
We
have
,
indeed
.
You
see
,
it
is
n't
only
one
gentleman
's
affairs
.
But
I
think
there
was
something
done
.
I
do
,
indeed
.
"
"
What
is
Mr.
John
Grey
's
address
?
"
asked
Vavasor
,
very
sharply
.
"
Number
5
,
Suffolk
Street
,
Pall
Mall
East
,
"
said
Mr.
Tombe
.
Herein
Mr.
Tombe
somewhat
committed
himself
.
His
client
,
Mr.
Grey
,
was
,
in
fact
,
in
town
,
but
Vavasor
had
not
known
or
imagined
that
such
was
the
case
.
Had
Mr.
Tombe
given
the
usual
address
of
Nethercoats
,
nothing
further
would
have
been
demanded
from
him
on
that
subject
.
But
he
had
foolishly
presumed
that
the
question
had
been
based
on
special
information
as
to
his
client
's
visit
to
London
,
and
he
had
told
the
plain
truth
in
a
very
simple
way
.
"
Number
5
,
Suffolk
Street
,
"
said
Vavasor
,
writing
down
the
address
.
"
Perhaps
it
will
be
better
that
I
should
go
to
him
,
as
you
do
not
seem
inclined
to
give
me
any
information
.
"
Then
he
took
up
his
hat
,
and
hardly
bowing
to
Mr.
Tombe
,
left
the
chambers
.
Mr.
Tombe
,
as
he
did
so
,
rose
from
his
chair
,
and
bent
his
head
meekly
down
upon
the
table
.
"
Pinkle
,
Pinkle
,
"
wheezed
Mr.
Tombe
.
"
Never
mind
;
never
mind
.
"
Pinkle
did
n't
mind
;
and
we
may
say
that
he
had
not
minded
;
for
up
to
that
moment
he
had
taken
no
steps
towards
a
performance
of
the
order
which
had
been
given
him
.
CHAPTER
LII
.
What
Occurred
in
Suffolk
Street
,
Pall
Mall
.
Mr.
Tombe
had
gained
nothing
for
the
cause
by
his
crafty
silence
.
George
Vavasor
felt
perfectly
certain
,
as
he
walked
out
from
the
little
street
which
runs
at
the
back
of
Doctors
'
Commons
,
that
the
money
which
he
had
been
using
had
come
,
in
some
shape
,
through
the
hands
of
John
Grey
.
He
did
not
care
much
to
calculate
whether
the
payments
had
been
made
from
the
personal
funds
of
his
rival
,
or
whether
that
rival
had
been
employed
to
dispense
Alice
's
fortune
.
Under
either
view
of
the
case
his
position
was
sufficiently
bitter
.
The
truth
never
for
a
moment
occurred
to
him
.
He
never
dreamed
that
there
might
be
a
conspiracy
in
the
matter
,
of
which
Alice
was
as
ignorant
as
he
himself
had
been
.
He
never
reflected
that
his
uncle
John
,
together
with
John
,
the
lover
,
whom
he
so
hated
,
might
be
the
conspirators
.
To
him
it
seemed
to
be
certain
that
Alice
and
Mr.
Grey
were
in
league
;
—
and
if
they
were
in
league
,
what
must
he
think
of
Alice
,
and
of
her
engagement
with
himself
!
There
are
men
who
rarely
think
well
of
women
,
—
who
hardly
think
well
of
any
woman
.
They
put
their
mothers
and
sisters
into
the
background
,
—
as
though
they
belonged
to
some
sex
or
race
apart
,
—
and
then
declare
to
themselves
and
to
their
friends
that
all
women
are
false
,
—
that
no
woman
can
be
trusted
unless
her
ugliness
protect
her
;
and
that
every
woman
may
be
attacked
as
fairly
as
may
game
in
a
cover
,
or
deer
on
a
mountain
,
What
man
does
not
know
men
who
have
so
thought
?
I
cannot
say
that
such
had
been
Vavasor
's
creed
,
—
not
entirely
such
.
There
had
been
periods
of
his
life
when
he
had
believed
implicitly
in
his
cousin
Alice
;
—
but
then
there
had
been
other
moments
in
which
he
had
ridiculed
himself
for
his
Quixotism
in
believing
in
any
woman
.
And
as
he
had
grown
older
the
moments
of
his
Quixotism
had
become
more
rare
.
There
would
have
been
no
such
Quixotism
left
with
him
now
,
had
not
the
various
circumstances
which
I
have
attempted
to
describe
,
filled
him
,
during
the
last
twelve
months
,
with
a
renewed
desire
to
marry
his
cousin
.
Every
man
tries
to
believe
in
the
honesty
of
his
future
wife
;
and
,
therefore
,
Vavasor
had
tried
,
and
had
in
his
way
,
believed
.
He
had
flattered
himself
,
too
,
that
Alice
's
heart
had
,
in
truth
,
been
more
prone
to
him
than
to
that
other
suitor
.
Grey
,
as
he
thought
,
had
been
accepted
by
her
cold
prudence
;
but
he
thought
,
also
,
that
she
had
found
her
prudence
to
be
too
cold
,
and
had
therefore
returned
where
she
had
truly
loved
.
Vavasor
,
though
he
did
not
love
much
himself
,
was
willing
enough
to
be
the
object
of
love
.
This
idea
of
his
,
however
,
had
been
greatly
shaken
by
Alice
's
treatment
of
himself
personally
;
but
still
he
had
not
,
hitherto
,
believed
that
she
was
false
to
him
.
Now
,
what
could
he
believe
of
her
?
What
was
there
within
the
compass
of
such
a
one
to
believe
?
As
he
walked
out
into
St.
Paul
's
Churchyard
he
called
her
by
every
name
which
is
most
offensive
to
a
woman
's
ears
.
He
hated
her
at
this
moment
with
even
a
more
bitter
hatred
than
that
which
he
felt
towards
John
Grey
.
She
must
have
deceived
him
with
unparalleled
hypocrisy
,
and
lied
to
him
and
to
his
sister
Kate
as
hardly
any
woman
had
ever
lied
before
.
Or
could
it
be
that
Kate
,
also
,
was
lying
to
him
?
If
so
,
Kate
also
should
be
included
in
the
punishment
.
But
why
should
they
have
conspired
to
feed
him
with
these
moneys
?
There
had
been
no
deceit
,
at
any
rate
,
in
reference
to
the
pounds
sterling
which
Scruby
had
already
swallowed
.
They
had
been
supplied
,
whatever
had
been
the
motives
of
the
suppliers
;
and
he
had
no
doubt
that
more
would
be
supplied
if
he
would
only
keep
himself
quiet
.
He
was
still
walking
westward
as
he
thought
of
this
,
down
Ludgate
Hill
,
on
his
direct
line
towards
Suffolk
Street
;
and
he
tried
to
persuade
himself
that
it
would
be
well
that
he
should
hide
his
wrath
till
after
provision
should
have
been
made
for
this
other
election
.
They
were
his
enemies
,
—
Alice
and
Mr.
Grey
,
—
and
why
should
he
keep
any
terms
with
his
enemies
?
It
was
still
a
trouble
to
him
to
think
that
he
should
have
been
in
any
way
beholden
to
John
Grey
;
but
the
terrible
thing
had
been
done
,
the
evil
had
occurred
.
What
would
he
gain
by
staying
his
hand
now
?
Still
,
however
,
he
walked
on
quickly
along
Fleet
Street
,
and
along
the
Strand
,
and
was
already
crossing
under
the
Picture
Galleries
towards
Pall
Mall
East
before
he
had
definitely
decided
what
steps
he
would
take
on
this
very
day
.
Exactly
at
the
corner
of
Suffolk
Street
he
met
John
Grey
.
"
Mr.
Grey
,
"
he
said
,
stopping
himself
suddenly
,
"
I
was
this
moment
going
to
call
on
you
at
your
lodgings
.
"
"
At
my
lodgings
,
were
you
?
Shall
I
return
with
you
?
"
"
If
you
please
,
"
said
Vavasor
,
leading
the
way
up
Suffolk
Street
.
There
had
been
no
other
greeting
than
this
between
them
.
Mr.
Grey
himself
,
though
a
man
very
courteous
in
his
general
demeanour
,
would
probably
have
passed
Vavasor
in
the
street
with
no
more
than
the
barest
salutation
.
Situated
as
they
were
towards
each
other
there
could
hardly
be
any
show
of
friendship
between
them
;
but
when
Vavasor
had
spoken
to
him
,
he
had
dressed
his
face
in
that
guise
of
civility
which
men
always
use
who
do
not
intend
to
be
offensive
;
—
but
Vavasor
dressed
his
as
men
dress
theirs
who
do
mean
to
be
offensive
;
and
Mr.
Grey
had
thoroughly
appreciated
the
dressing
.
"
If
you
will
allow
me
,
I
have
the
key
,
"
said
Grey
.
Then
they
both
entered
the
house
,
and
Vavasor
followed
his
host
up-stairs
.
Mr.
Grey
,
as
he
went
up
,
felt
almost
angry
with
himself
in
having
admitted
his
enemy
into
his
lodgings
.
He
was
sure
that
no
good
could
come
of
it
,
and
remembered
,
when
it
was
too
late
,
that
he
might
easily
have
saved
himself
from
giving
the
invitation
while
he
was
still
in
the
street
.
There
they
were
,
however
,
together
in
the
sitting-room
,
and
Grey
had
nothing
to
do
but
to
listen
.
"
Will
you
take
a
chair
,
Mr.
Vavasor
?
"
he
said
.
"
No
,
"
said
Vavasor
;
"
I
will
stand
up
.
"
And
he
stood
up
,
holding
his
hat
behind
his
back
with
his
left
hand
,
with
his
right
leg
forward
,
and
the
thumb
of
his
right
hand
in
his
waistcoat-pocket
.
He
looked
full
into
Grey
's
face
,
and
Grey
looked
full
into
his
;
and
as
he
looked
the
great
cicatrice
seemed
to
open
itself
and
to
become
purple
with
fresh
blood
stains
.
"
I
have
come
here
from
Mr.
Tombe
's
office
in
the
City
,
"
said
Vavasor
,
"
to
ask
you
of
what
nature
has
been
the
interference
which
you
have
taken
in
my
money
matters
?
"
This
was
a
question
which
Mr.
Grey
could
not
answer
very
quickly
.
In
the
first
place
it
was
altogether
unexpected
;
in
the
next
place
he
did
not
know
what
Mr.
Tombe
had
told
,
and
what
he
had
not
told
;
and
then
,
before
he
replied
,
he
must
think
how
much
of
the
truth
he
was
bound
to
tell
in
answer
to
a
question
so
put
to
him
.
"
Do
you
say
that
you
have
come
from
Mr.
Tombe
?
"
he
asked
.
"
I
think
you
heard
me
say
so
.
I
have
come
here
direct
from
Mr.
Tombe
's
chambers
.
He
is
your
lawyer
,
I
believe
?
"
"
He
is
so
.
"
"
And
I
have
come
from
him
to
ask
you
what
interference
you
have
lately
taken
in
my
money
matters
.
When
you
have
answered
that
,
I
shall
have
other
questions
to
ask
you
.
"
"
But
,
Mr.
Vavasor
,
has
it
occurred
to
you
that
I
may
not
be
disposed
to
answer
questions
so
asked
?
"
"
It
has
not
occurred
to
me
to
think
that
you
will
prevaricate
.
If
there
has
been
no
such
interference
,
I
will
ask
your
pardon
,
and
go
away
;
but
if
there
has
been
such
interference
on
your
part
,
I
have
a
right
to
demand
that
you
shall
explain
to
me
its
nature
.
"
Grey
had
now
made
up
his
mind
that
it
would
be
better
that
he
should
tell
the
whole
story
,
—
better
not
only
for
himself
,
but
for
all
the
Vavasors
,
including
this
angry
man
himself
.
The
angry
man
evidently
knew
something
,
and
it
would
be
better
that
he
should
know
the
truth
.
"
There
has
been
such
interference
,
Mr.
Vavasor
,
if
you
choose
to
call
it
so
.
Money
,
to
the
extent
of
two
thousand
pounds
,
I
think
,
has
by
my
directions
been
paid
to
your
credit
by
Mr.
Tombe
.
"
"
Well
,
"
said
Vavasor
,
taking
his
right
hand
away
from
his
waistcoat
,
and
tapping
the
round
table
with
his
fingers
impatiently
.
"
I
hardly
know
how
to
explain
all
the
circumstances
under
which
this
has
been
done
.
"
"
I
dare
say
not
;
but
,
nevertheless
,
you
must
explain
them
.
"
Grey
was
a
man
tranquil
in
temperament
,
very
little
prone
to
quarrelling
,
with
perhaps
an
exaggerated
idea
of
the
evil
results
of
a
row
,
—
a
man
who
would
take
infinite
trouble
to
avoid
any
such
scene
as
that
which
now
seemed
to
be
imminent
;
but
he
was
a
man
whose
courage
was
quite
as
high
as
that
of
his
opponent
.
To
bully
or
be
bullied
were
alike
contrary
to
his
nature
.
It
was
clear
enough
now
that
Vavasor
intended
to
bully
him
,
and
he
made
up
his
mind
at
once
that
if
the
quarrel
were
forced
upon
him
it
should
find
him
ready
to
take
his
own
part
.
"
My
difficulty
in
explaining
it
comes
from
consideration
for
you
,
"
he
said
.
"
Then
I
beg
that
your
difficulty
will
cease
,
and
that
you
will
have
no
consideration
for
me
.
We
are
so
circumstanced
towards
each
other
that
any
consideration
must
be
humbug
and
nonsense
.
At
any
rate
,
I
intend
to
have
none
for
you
.
Now
,
let
me
know
why
you
have
meddled
with
my
matters
.
"
"
I
think
I
might
,
perhaps
,
better
refer
you
to
your
uncle
.
"
"
No
,
sir
;
Mr.
Tombe
is
not
my
uncle
's
lawyer
.
My
uncle
never
heard
his
name
,
unless
he
heard
of
it
from
you
.
"
"
But
it
was
by
agreement
with
your
uncle
that
I
commissioned
Mr.
Tombe
to
raise
for
you
the
money
you
were
desirous
of
borrowing
from
your
cousin
.
We
thought
it
better
that
her
fortune
should
not
be
for
the
moment
disturbed
.
"
"
But
what
had
you
to
do
with
it
?
Why
should
you
have
done
it
?
In
the
first
place
,
I
do
n't
believe
your
story
;
it
is
altogether
improbable
.
But
why
should
he
come
to
you
of
all
men
to
raise
money
on
his
daughter
's
behalf
?
"
"
Unless
you
can
behave
yourself
with
more
discretion
,
Mr.
Vavasor
,
you
must
leave
the
room
,
"
said
Mr.
Grey
.
Then
,
as
Vavasor
simply
sneered
at
him
,
but
spoke
nothing
,
he
went
on
.
"
It
was
I
who
suggested
to
your
uncle
that
this
arrangement
should
be
made
.
I
did
not
wish
to
see
Miss
Vavasor
's
fortune
squandered
.
"
"
And
what
was
her
fortune
to
you
,
sir
?
Are
you
aware
that
she
is
engaged
to
me
as
my
wife
?
I
ask
you
,
sir
,
whether
you
are
aware
that
Miss
Vavasor
is
to
be
my
wife
?
"
"
I
must
altogether
decline
to
discuss
with
you
Miss
Vavasor
's
present
or
future
position
.
"
"
By
heavens
,
then
,
you
shall
hear
me
discuss
it
!
She
was
engaged
to
you
,
and
she
has
given
you
your
dismissal
.
If
you
had
understood
anything
of
the
conduct
which
is
usual
among
gentlemen
,
or
if
you
had
had
any
particle
of
pride
in
you
,
sir
,
you
would
have
left
her
and
never
mentioned
her
name
again
.
I
now
find
you
meddling
with
her
money
matters
,
so
as
to
get
a
hold
upon
her
fortune
.
"
"
I
have
no
hold
upon
her
fortune
.
"
"
Yes
,
sir
,
you
have
.
You
do
not
advance
two
thousand
pounds
without
knowing
that
you
have
security
.
She
has
rejected
you
;
and
in
order
that
you
may
be
revenged
,
or
that
you
may
have
some
further
hold
upon
her
,
—
that
she
may
be
in
some
sort
within
your
power
,
you
have
contrived
this
rascally
pettifogging
way
of
obtaining
power
over
her
income
.
The
money
shall
be
repaid
at
once
,
with
any
interest
that
can
be
due
;
and
if
I
find
you
interfering
again
,
I
will
expose
you
.
"
"
Mr.
Vavasor
,
"
said
Grey
very
slowly
,
in
a
low
tone
of
voice
,
but
with
something
in
his
eye
which
would
have
told
any
bystander
that
he
was
much
in
earnest
,
"
you
have
used
words
in
your
anger
which
I
cannot
allow
to
pass
.
You
must
recall
them
.
"
"
What
were
the
words
?
I
said
that
you
were
a
pettifogging
rascal
.
I
now
repeat
them
.
"
As
he
spoke
he
put
on
his
hat
,
so
as
to
leave
both
his
hands
ready
for
action
if
action
should
be
required
.
Grey
was
much
the
larger
man
and
much
the
stronger
.
It
may
be
doubted
whether
he
knew
himself
the
extent
of
his
own
strength
,
but
such
as
it
was
he
resolved
that
he
must
now
use
it
.
"
There
is
no
help
for
it
,
"
he
said
,
as
he
also
prepared
for
action
.
The
first
thing
he
did
was
to
open
the
door
,
and
as
he
did
so
he
became
conscious
that
his
mouth
was
full
of
blood
from
a
sharp
blow
upon
his
face
.
Vavasor
had
struck
him
with
his
fist
,
and
had
cut
his
lip
against
his
teeth
.
Then
there
came
a
scramble
,
and
Grey
was
soon
aware
that
he
had
his
opponent
in
his
hands
.
I
doubt
whether
he
had
attempted
to
strike
a
blow
,
or
whether
he
had
so
much
as
clenched
his
fist
.
Vavasor
had
struck
him
repeatedly
,
but
the
blows
had
fallen
on
his
body
or
his
head
,
and
he
was
unconscious
of
them
.
He
had
but
one
object
now
in
his
mind
,
and
that
object
was
the
kicking
his
assailant
down
the
stairs
.
Then
came
a
scramble
,
as
I
have
said
,
and
Grey
had
a
hold
of
the
smaller
man
by
the
nape
of
his
neck
.
So
holding
him
he
forced
him
back
through
the
door
on
to
the
landing
,
and
there
succeeded
in
pushing
him
down
the
first
flight
of
steps
.
Grey
kicked
at
him
as
he
went
,
but
the
kick
was
impotent
.
He
had
,
however
,
been
so
far
successful
that
he
had
thrust
his
enemy
out
of
the
room
,
and
had
the
satisfaction
of
seeing
him
sprawling
on
the
landing-place
.
Vavasor
,
when
he
raised
himself
,
prepared
to
make
another
rush
at
the
room
,
but
before
he
could
do
so
a
man
from
below
,
hearing
the
noise
,
had
come
upon
him
and
interrupted
him
.
"
Mr.
Jones
,
"
said
Grey
,
speaking
from
above
,
"
if
that
gentleman
does
not
leave
the
house
,
I
must
get
you
to
search
for
a
policeman
.
"
Vavasor
,
though
the
lodging-house
man
had
hold
of
the
collar
of
his
coat
,
made
no
attempt
to
turn
upon
his
new
enemy
.
When
two
dogs
are
fighting
,
any
bystander
may
attempt
to
separate
them
with
impunity
.
The
brutes
are
so
anxious
to
tear
each
other
that
they
have
no
energies
left
for
other
purposes
.
It
never
occurs
to
them
to
turn
their
teeth
upon
newcomers
in
the
quarrel
.
So
it
was
with
George
Vavasor
.
Jones
was
sufficient
to
prevent
his
further
attack
upon
the
foe
up-stairs
,
and
therefore
he
had
no
alternative
but
to
relinquish
the
fight
.
"
What
's
it
all
about
,
sir
?
"
said
Jones
,
who
kept
a
tailor
's
establishment
,
and
,
as
a
tailor
,
was
something
of
a
fighting
man
himself
.
Of
all
tradesmen
in
London
the
tailors
are
,
no
doubt
,
the
most
combative
,
—
as
might
be
expected
from
the
necessity
which
lies
upon
them
of
living
down
the
general
bad
character
in
this
respect
which
the
world
has
wrongly
given
them
.
"
What
's
it
all
about
,
sir
?
"
said
Jones
,
still
holding
Vavasor
by
his
coat
.
"
That
man
has
ill-used
me
,
and
I
've
punished
him
;
that
's
all
.
"
"
I
do
n't
know
much
about
punishing
,
"
said
the
tailor
.
"
It
seems
to
me
he
pitched
you
down
pretty
clean
out
of
the
room
above
.
I
think
the
best
thing
you
can
do
now
is
to
walk
yourself
off
.
"
It
was
the
only
thing
that
Vavasor
could
do
,
and
he
did
walk
himself
off
.
He
walked
himself
off
,
and
went
home
to
his
own
lodgings
in
Cecil
Street
,
that
he
might
smooth
his
feathers
after
the
late
encounter
before
he
went
down
to
Westminster
to
take
his
seat
in
the
House
of
Commons
.
I
do
not
think
that
he
was
comfortable
when
he
got
there
,
or
that
he
felt
himself
very
well
able
to
fight
another
battle
that
night
on
behalf
of
the
River
Bank
.
He
had
not
been
hurt
,
but
he
had
been
worsted
.
Grey
had
probably
received
more
personal
damage
than
had
fallen
to
his
share
;
but
Grey
had
succeeded
in
expelling
him
from
the
room
,
and
he
knew
that
he
had
been
found
prostrate
on
the
landing-place
when
the
tailor
first
saw
him
.
But
he
might
probably
have
got
over
the
annoyance
of
this
feeling
had
he
not
been
overwhelmed
by
a
consciousness
that
everything
was
going
badly
with
him
.
He
was
already
beginning
to
hate
his
seat
in
Parliament
.
What
good
had
it
done
for
him
,
or
was
it
likely
to
do
for
him
?
He
found
himself
to
be
associated
there
with
Mr.
Bott
,
and
a
few
others
of
the
same
class
,
—
men
whom
he
despised
;
and
even
they
did
not
admit
him
among
them
without
a
certain
show
of
superiority
on
their
part
.
Who
has
not
ascertained
by
his
own
experience
the
different
lights
through
which
the
same
events
may
be
seen
,
according
to
the
success
,
or
want
of
success
,
which
pervades
the
atmosphere
at
the
moment
?
At
the
present
time
everything
was
unsuccessful
with
George
Vavasor
;
and
though
he
told
himself
,
almost
from
hour
to
hour
,
that
he
would
go
on
with
the
thing
which
he
had
begun
,
—
that
he
would
persevere
in
Parliament
till
he
had
obtained
a
hearing
there
and
created
for
himself
success
,
he
could
not
himself
believe
in
the
promises
which
he
had
made
to
himself
.
He
had
looked
forward
to
his
entrance
into
that
Chamber
as
the
hour
of
his
triumph
;
but
he
had
entered
it
with
Mr.
Bott
,
and
there
had
been
no
triumph
to
him
in
doing
so
.
He
had
sworn
to
himself
that
when
there
he
would
find
men
to
hear
him
.
Hitherto
,
indeed
,
he
could
not
accuse
himself
of
having
missed
his
opportunities
;
his
election
had
been
so
recent
that
he
could
hardly
yet
have
made
the
attempt
.
But
he
had
been
there
long
enough
to
learn
to
fancy
that
there
was
no
glory
in
attempting
.
This
art
of
speaking
in
Parliament
,
which
had
appeared
to
him
to
be
so
grand
,
seemed
already
to
be
a
humdrum
,
homely
,
dull
affair
.
No
one
seemed
to
listen
much
to
what
was
said
.
To
such
as
himself
,
—
Members
without
an
acquired
name
,
—
men
did
not
seem
to
listen
at
all
.
Mr.
Palliser
had
once
,
in
his
hearing
,
spoken
for
two
hours
together
,
and
all
the
House
had
treated
his
speech
with
respect
,
—
had
declared
that
it
was
useful
,
solid
,
conscientious
,
and
what
not
;
but
more
than
half
the
House
had
been
asleep
more
than
half
the
time
that
he
was
on
his
legs
.
Vavasor
had
not
as
yet
commenced
his
career
as
an
orator
;
but
night
after
night
,
as
he
sat
there
,
the
chance
of
commencing
it
with
brilliance
seemed
to
be
further
from
him
,
and
still
further
.
Two
thousand
pounds
of
his
own
money
,
and
two
thousand
more
of
Alice
's
money
,
—
or
of
Mr.
Grey
's
,
—
he
had
already
spent
to
make
his
way
into
that
assembly
.
He
must
spend
,
at
any
rate
,
two
thousand
more
if
he
intended
that
his
career
should
be
prolonged
beyond
a
three
months
'
sitting
;
—
and
how
was
he
to
get
this
further
sum
after
what
had
taken
place
to-day
?
He
would
get
it
.
That
was
his
resolve
as
he
walked
in
by
the
apple-woman
's
stall
,
under
the
shadow
of
the
great
policeman
,
and
between
the
two
august
lamps
.
He
would
get
it
;
—
as
long
as
Alice
had
a
pound
over
which
he
could
obtain
mastery
by
any
act
or
violence
within
his
compass
.
He
would
get
it
;
even
though
it
should
come
through
the
hands
of
John
Grey
and
Mr.
Tombe
.
He
would
get
it
;
though
in
doing
so
he
might
destroy
his
cousin
Alice
and
ruin
his
sister
Kate
.
He
had
gone
too
far
to
stick
at
any
scruples
.
Had
he
not
often
declared
how
great
had
been
that
murderer
who
had
been
able
to
divest
himself
of
all
such
scruples
,
—
who
had
scoured
his
bosom
free
from
all
fears
of
the
hereafter
,
and
,
as
regarded
the
present
,
had
dared
to
trust
for
everything
to
success
?
He
would
go
to
Alice
and
demand
the
money
from
her
with
threats
,
and
with
that
violence
in
his
eyes
which
he
knew
so
well
how
to
assume
.
He
believed
that
when
he
so
demanded
it
,
the
money
would
be
forthcoming
so
as
to
satisfy
,
at
any
rate
,
his
present
emergencies
.
That
wretched
old
man
in
Westmoreland
!
If
he
would
but
die
,
there
might
yet
be
a
hope
remaining
of
permanent
success
!
Even
though
the
estate
might
be
entailed
so
as
to
give
him
no
more
than
a
life-interest
,
still
money
might
be
raised
on
it
.
His
life-interest
in
it
would
be
worth
ten
or
twelve
years
'
purchase
.
He
had
an
idea
that
his
grandfather
had
not
as
yet
made
any
such
will
when
he
left
the
place
in
Westmoreland
.
What
a
boon
it
would
be
if
death
could
be
made
to
overtake
the
old
man
before
he
did
so
!
On
this
very
night
he
walked
about
the
lobbies
of
the
House
,
thinking
of
all
this
.
He
went
by
himself
from
room
to
room
,
roaming
along
passages
,
sitting
now
for
ten
minutes
in
the
gallery
,
and
then
again
for
a
short
space
in
the
body
of
the
House
,
—
till
he
would
get
up
and
wander
again
out
into
the
lobby
,
impatient
of
the
neighbourhood
of
Mr.
Bott
.
Certainly
just
at
this
time
he
felt
no
desire
to
bring
before
the
House
the
subject
of
the
River
Embankment
.
Nor
was
Mr.
Grey
much
happier
when
he
was
left
alone
,
than
was
his
assailant
.
To
give
Vavasor
his
due
,
the
memory
of
the
affray
itself
did
not
long
trouble
him
much
.
The
success
between
the
combatants
had
been
nearly
equal
,
and
he
had
,
at
any
rate
,
spoken
his
mind
freely
.
His
misery
had
come
from
other
sources
.
But
the
reflection
that
he
had
been
concerned
in
a
row
was
in
itself
enough
to
make
John
Grey
wretched
for
the
time
.
Such
a
misfortune
had
never
hitherto
befallen
him
.
In
all
his
dealings
with
men
words
had
been
sufficient
,
and
generally
words
of
courtesy
had
sufficed
.
To
have
been
personally
engaged
in
a
fighting
scramble
with
such
a
man
as
George
Vavasor
was
to
him
terrible
.
When
ordering
that
his
money
might
be
expended
with
the
possible
object
of
saving
Alice
from
her
cousin
,
he
had
never
felt
a
moment
's
regret
;
he
had
never
thought
that
he
was
doing
more
than
circumstances
fairly
demanded
of
him
.
But
now
he
was
almost
driven
to
utter
reproach
.
"
Oh
,
Alice
!
that
this
thing
should
have
come
upon
me
through
thy
fault
!
"
When
Vavasor
was
led
away
down
stairs
by
the
tailor
,
and
Grey
found
that
no
more
actual
fighting
would
be
required
of
him
,
he
retired
into
his
bedroom
,
that
he
might
wash
his
mouth
and
free
himself
from
the
stains
of
the
combat
.
He
had
heard
the
front
door
closed
,
and
knew
that
the
miscreant
was
gone
,
—
the
miscreant
who
had
disturbed
his
quiet
.
Then
he
began
to
think
what
was
the
accusation
with
which
Vavasor
had
charged
him
.
He
had
been
told
that
he
had
advanced
money
on
behalf
of
Alice
,
in
order
that
he
might
obtain
some
power
over
Alice
's
fortune
,
and
thus
revenge
himself
upon
Alice
for
her
treatment
of
him
.
Nothing
could
be
more
damnably
false
than
this
accusation
.
Of
that
he
was
well
aware
.
But
were
not
the
circumstances
of
a
nature
to
make
it
appear
that
the
accusation
was
true
?
Security
for
the
money
advanced
by
him
,
of
course
,
he
had
none
;
—
of
course
he
had
desired
none
;
—
of
course
the
money
had
been
given
out
of
his
own
pocket
with
the
sole
object
of
saving
Alice
,
if
that
might
be
possible
;
but
of
all
those
who
might
hear
of
this
affair
,
how
many
would
know
or
even
guess
the
truth
?
While
he
was
in
this
wretched
state
of
mind
,
washing
his
mouth
,
and
disturbing
his
spirit
,
Mr.
Jones
,
his
landlord
,
came
up
to
him
.
Mr.
Jones
had
known
him
for
some
years
,
and
entertained
a
most
profound
respect
for
his
character
.
A
rather
sporting
man
than
otherwise
was
Mr.
Jones
.
His
father
had
been
a
tradesman
at
Cambridge
,
and
in
this
way
Jones
had
become
known
to
Mr.
Grey
.
But
though
given
to
sport
,
by
which
he
meant
modern
prize-fighting
and
the
Epsom
course
on
the
Derby
day
,
Mr.
Jones
was
a
man
who
dearly
loved
respectable
customers
and
respectable
lodgers
.
Mr.
Grey
,
with
his
property
at
Nethercoats
,
and
his
august
manners
,
and
his
reputation
at
Cambridge
,
was
a
most
respectable
lodger
,
and
Mr.
Jones
could
hardly
understand
how
any
one
could
presume
to
raise
his
hand
against
such
a
man
.
"
Dear
,
dear
,
sir
—
this
is
a
terrible
affair
!
"
he
said
,
as
he
made
his
way
into
the
room
.
"
It
was
very
disagreeable
,
certainly
,
"
said
Grey
.
"
Was
the
gentleman
known
to
you
?
"
asked
the
tailor
.
"
Yes
;
I
know
who
he
is
.
"
"
Any
quarrel
,
sir
?
"
"
Well
,
yes
.
I
should
not
have
pushed
him
down
stairs
had
he
not
quarrelled
with
me
.
"
"
We
can
have
the
police
after
him
if
you
wish
it
,
sir
?
"
"
I
do
n't
wish
it
at
all
.
"
"
Or
we
might
manage
to
polish
him
off
in
any
other
way
,
you
know
.
"
It
was
some
time
before
Mr.
Grey
could
get
rid
of
the
tailor
,
but
he
did
so
at
last
without
having
told
any
part
of
the
story
to
that
warlike
,
worthy
,
and
very
anxious
individual
.
CHAPTER
LIII
.
The
Last
Will
of
the
Old
Squire
.
In
the
meantime
Kate
Vavasor
was
living
down
in
Westmoreland
,
with
no
other
society
than
that
of
her
grandfather
,
and
did
not
altogether
have
a
very
pleasant
life
of
it
.
George
had
been
apt
to
represent
the
old
man
to
himself
as
being
as
strong
as
an
old
tower
,
which
,
though
it
be
but
a
ruin
,
shows
no
sign
of
falling
.
To
his
eyes
the
Squire
had
always
seemed
to
be
full
of
life
and
power
.
He
could
be
violent
on
occasions
,
and
was
hardly
ever
without
violence
in
his
eyes
and
voice
.
But
George
's
opinion
was
formed
by
his
wish
,
or
rather
by
the
reverses
of
his
wish
.
For
years
he
had
been
longing
that
his
grandfather
should
die
,
—
had
been
accusing
Fate
of
gross
injustice
in
that
she
did
not
snap
the
thread
;
and
with
such
thoughts
in
his
mind
he
had
grudged
every
ounce
which
the
Squire
's
vigour
had
been
able
to
sustain
.
He
had
almost
taught
himself
to
believe
that
it
would
be
a
good
deed
to
squeeze
what
remained
of
life
out
of
that
violent
old
throat
.
But
,
indeed
,
the
embers
of
life
were
burning
low
;
and
had
George
known
all
the
truth
,
he
would
hardly
have
inclined
his
mind
to
thoughts
of
murder
.
He
was
,
indeed
,
very
weak
with
age
,
and
tottering
with
unsteady
steps
on
the
brink
of
his
grave
,
though
he
would
still
come
down
early
from
his
room
,
and
would
,
if
possible
,
creep
out
about
the
garden
and
into
the
farmyard
.
He
would
still
sit
down
to
dinner
,
and
would
drink
his
allotted
portion
of
port
wine
,
in
the
doctor
's
teeth
.
The
doctor
by
no
means
desired
to
rob
him
of
his
last
luxury
,
or
even
to
stint
his
quantity
;
but
he
recommended
certain
changes
in
the
mode
and
time
of
taking
it
.
Against
this
,
however
,
the
old
Squire
indignantly
rebelled
,
and
scolded
Kate
almost
off
her
legs
when
she
attempted
to
enforce
the
doctor
's
orders
.
"
What
the
mischief
does
it
signify
,
"
the
old
man
said
to
her
one
evening
;
—
"
what
difference
will
it
make
whether
I
am
dead
or
alive
,
unless
it
is
that
George
would
turn
you
out
of
the
house
directly
he
gets
it
.
"
"
I
was
not
thinking
of
any
one
but
yourself
,
sir
,
"
said
Kate
,
with
a
tear
in
her
eye
.
"
You
wo
n't
be
troubled
to
think
of
me
much
longer
,
"
said
the
Squire
;
and
then
he
gulped
down
the
remaining
half
of
his
glass
of
wine
.
Kate
was
,
in
truth
,
very
good
to
him
.
Women
always
are
good
under
such
circumstances
;
and
Kate
Vavasor
was
one
who
would
certainly
stick
to
such
duties
as
now
fell
to
her
lot
.
She
was
eminently
true
and
loyal
to
her
friends
,
though
she
could
be
as
false
on
their
behalf
as
most
false
people
can
be
on
their
own
.
She
was
very
good
to
the
old
man
,
tending
all
his
wants
,
taking
his
violence
with
good-humour
rather
than
with
submission
,
not
opposing
him
with
direct
contradiction
when
he
abused
his
grandson
,
but
saying
little
words
to
mitigate
his
wrath
,
if
it
were
possible
.
At
such
times
the
Squire
would
tell
her
that
she
also
would
learn
to
know
her
brother
's
character
some
day
.
"
You
'll
live
to
be
robbed
by
him
,
and
turned
out
as
naked
as
you
were
born
,
"
he
said
to
her
one
day
.
Then
Kate
fired
up
and
declared
that
she
fully
trusted
her
brother
's
love
.
Whatever
faults
he
might
have
,
he
had
been
staunch
to
her
,
So
she
said
,
and
the
old
man
sneered
at
her
for
saying
so
.
One
morning
,
soon
after
this
,
when
she
brought
him
up
to
his
bedroom
some
mixture
of
thin
porridge
,
which
he
still
endeavoured
to
swallow
for
his
breakfast
,
he
bade
her
sit
down
,
and
began
to
talk
to
her
about
the
property
.
"
I
know
you
are
a
fool
,
"
he
said
,
"
about
all
matters
of
business
;
—
more
of
a
fool
than
even
women
generally
are
.
"
To
this
Kate
acceded
with
a
little
smile
,
—
acknowledging
that
her
understanding
was
limited
.
"
I
want
to
see
Gogram
,
"
he
said
.
"
Do
you
write
to
him
a
line
,
telling
him
to
come
here
to-day
,
—
he
or
one
of
his
men
,
—
and
send
it
at
once
by
Peter
.
"
Gogram
was
an
attorney
who
lived
at
Penrith
,
and
who
was
never
summoned
to
Vavasor
Hall
unless
the
Squire
had
something
to
say
about
his
will
.
"
Do
n't
you
think
you
'd
better
put
it
off
till
you
are
a
little
stronger
?
"
said
Kate
.
Whereupon
the
Squire
fired
at
her
such
a
volley
of
oaths
that
she
sprang
off
the
chair
on
which
she
was
sitting
,
and
darted
across
to
a
little
table
at
which
there
was
pen
and
ink
,
and
wrote
her
note
to
Mr.
Gogram
,
before
she
had
recovered
from
the
shaking
which
the
battery
had
given
her
.
She
wrote
the
note
,
and
ran
away
with
it
to
Peter
,
and
saw
Peter
on
the
pony
on
his
way
to
Penrith
,
before
she
dared
to
return
to
her
grandfather
's
bedside
.
"
What
should
you
do
with
the
estate
if
I
left
it
you
?
"
the
Squire
said
to
her
the
first
moment
she
was
again
back
with
him
.
This
was
a
question
she
could
not
answer
instantly
.
She
stood
by
his
bedside
for
a
while
thinking
,
—
holding
her
grandfather
's
hand
and
looking
down
upon
the
bed
.
He
,
with
his
rough
watery
old
eyes
,
was
gazing
up
into
her
face
,
as
though
he
were
trying
to
read
her
thoughts
.
"
I
think
I
should
give
it
to
my
brother
,
"
she
said
.
"
Then
I
'm
d
–
–
–
–
if
I
'll
leave
it
to
you
,
"
said
he
.
She
did
not
jump
now
,
though
he
had
sworn
at
her
.
She
still
stood
,
holding
his
hand
softly
,
and
looking
down
upon
the
bed
.
"
If
I
were
you
,
grandfather
,
"
she
said
almost
in
a
whisper
,
"
I
would
not
trust
myself
to
alter
family
arrangements
whilst
I
was
ill.
I
'm
sure
you
would
advise
any
one
else
against
doing
so
.
"
"
And
if
I
were
to
leave
it
to
Alice
,
she
'd
give
it
to
him
too
,
"
he
said
,
speaking
his
thoughts
out
loud
.
"
What
it
is
you
see
in
him
,
I
never
could
even
guess
.
He
's
as
ugly
as
a
baboon
,
with
his
scarred
face
.
He
has
never
done
anything
to
show
himself
a
clever
fellow
.
Kate
,
give
me
some
of
that
bottle
the
man
sent
.
"
Kate
handed
him
his
medicine
,
and
then
stood
again
by
his
bedside
.
"
Where
did
he
get
the
money
to
pay
for
his
election
?
"
the
Squire
asked
,
as
soon
as
he
had
swallowed
the
draught
.
"
They
would
n't
give
such
a
one
as
him
credit
a
yard
further
than
they
could
see
him
.
"
"
I
do
n't
know
where
he
got
it
,
"
said
Kate
,
lying
.
"
He
has
not
had
yours
;
has
he
?
"
"
He
would
not
take
it
,
sir
.
"
"
And
you
offered
it
to
him
?
"
"
Yes
,
sir
.
"
"
And
he
has
not
had
it
?
"
"
Not
a
penny
of
it
,
sir
.
"
"
And
what
made
you
offer
it
to
him
after
what
I
said
to
you
?
"
"
Because
it
was
my
own
,
"
said
Kate
,
stoutly
.
"
You
're
the
biggest
idiot
that
ever
I
heard
of
,
and
you
'll
know
it
yourself
some
day
.
Go
away
now
,
and
let
me
know
when
Gogram
comes
.
"
She
went
away
,
and
for
a
time
employed
herself
about
her
ordinary
household
work
.
Then
she
sat
down
alone
in
the
dingy
old
dining-room
,
to
think
what
had
better
be
done
in
her
present
circumstances
.
The
carpet
of
the
room
was
worn
out
,
as
were
also
the
covers
of
the
old
chairs
and
the
horsehair
sofa
which
was
never
moved
from
its
accustomed
place
along
the
wall
.
It
was
not
a
comfortable
Squire
's
residence
,
this
old
house
at
Vavasor
.
In
the
last
twenty
years
no
money
had
been
spent
on
furniture
or
embellishments
,
and
for
the
last
ten
years
there
had
been
no
painting
,
either
inside
or
out
.
Twenty
years
ago
the
Squire
had
been
an
embarrassed
man
,
and
had
taken
a
turn
in
his
life
and
had
lived
sparingly
.
It
could
not
be
said
that
he
had
become
a
miser
.
His
table
was
kept
plentifully
,
and
there
had
never
been
want
in
his
house
.
In
some
respects
,
too
,
he
had
behaved
liberally
to
Kate
and
to
others
,
and
he
had
kept
up
the
timber
and
fences
on
the
property
.
But
the
house
had
become
wretched
in
its
dull
,
sombre
,
dirty
darkness
,
and
the
gardens
round
it
were
as
bad
.
What
ought
she
now
to
do
?
She
believed
that
her
grandfather
's
last
days
were
coming
,
and
she
knew
that
others
of
the
family
should
be
with
him
besides
herself
.
For
their
sakes
,
for
his
,
and
for
her
own
,
it
would
be
proper
that
she
should
not
be
alone
there
when
he
died
.
But
for
whom
should
she
send
?
Her
brother
was
the
natural
heir
,
and
would
be
the
head
of
the
family
.
Her
duty
to
him
was
clear
,
and
the
more
so
as
her
grandfather
was
at
this
moment
speaking
of
changes
in
his
will
.
But
it
was
a
question
to
her
whether
George
's
presence
at
Vavasor
,
even
if
he
would
come
,
would
not
at
this
moment
do
more
harm
than
good
to
his
own
interests
.
It
would
make
some
prejudicial
change
in
the
old
man
's
will
more
probable
instead
of
less
so
.
George
would
not
become
soft
and
mild-spoken
even
by
a
death-bed
side
,
and
it
would
be
likely
enough
that
the
Squire
would
curse
his
heir
with
his
dying
breath
.
She
might
send
for
her
uncle
John
;
but
if
she
did
so
without
telling
George
she
would
be
treating
George
unfairly
;
and
she
knew
that
it
was
improbable
that
her
uncle
and
her
brother
should
act
together
in
anything
.
Her
aunt
Greenow
,
she
thought
,
would
come
to
her
,
and
her
presence
would
not
influence
the
Squire
in
any
way
with
reference
to
the
property
.
So
she
made
up
her
mind
at
last
that
she
would
ask
her
aunt
to
come
to
Vavasor
,
and
that
she
would
tell
her
brother
accurately
all
that
she
could
tell
,
—
leaving
him
to
come
or
stay
,
as
he
might
think
.
Alice
would
,
no
doubt
,
learn
all
the
facts
from
him
,
and
her
uncle
John
would
hear
them
from
Alice
.
Then
they
could
do
as
they
pleased
.
As
soon
as
Mr.
Gogram
had
been
there
she
would
write
her
letters
,
and
they
should
be
sent
over
to
Shap
early
on
the
following
morning
.
Mr.
Gogram
came
and
was
closeted
with
the
Squire
,
and
the
doctor
also
came
.
The
doctor
saw
Kate
,
and
,
shaking
his
head
,
told
her
that
her
grandfather
was
sinking
lower
and
lower
every
hour
.
It
would
be
infinitely
better
for
him
if
he
would
take
that
port
wine
at
four
doses
in
the
day
,
or
even
at
two
,
instead
of
taking
it
all
together
.
Kate
promised
to
try
again
,
but
stated
her
conviction
that
the
trial
would
be
useless
.
The
doctor
,
when
pressed
on
the
matter
,
said
that
his
patient
might
probably
live
a
week
,
not
improbably
a
fortnight
,
—
perhaps
a
month
,
if
he
would
be
obedient
,
—
and
so
forth
.
Gogram
went
away
without
seeing
Kate
;
and
Kate
,
who
looked
upon
a
will
as
an
awful
and
somewhat
tedious
ceremony
,
was
in
doubt
whether
her
grandfather
would
live
to
complete
any
new
operation
.
But
,
in
truth
,
the
will
had
been
made
and
signed
and
witnessed
,
—
the
parish
clerk
and
one
of
the
tenants
having
been
had
up
into
the
room
as
witnesses
.
Kate
knew
that
the
men
had
been
there
,
but
still
did
not
think
that
a
new
will
had
been
perfected
.
That
evening
when
it
was
dusk
the
Squire
came
into
the
dining-room
,
having
been
shuffling
about
the
grand
sweep
before
the
house
for
a
quarter
of
an
hour
.
The
day
was
cold
and
the
wind
bleak
,
but
still
he
would
go
out
,
and
Kate
had
wrapped
him
up
carefully
in
mufflers
and
great-coats
.
Now
he
came
in
to
what
he
called
dinner
,
and
Kate
sat
down
with
him
.
He
had
drank
no
wine
that
day
,
although
she
had
brought
it
to
him
twice
during
the
morning
.
Now
he
attempted
to
swallow
a
little
soup
,
but
failed
;
and
after
that
,
while
Kate
was
eating
her
bit
of
chicken
,
had
the
decanter
put
before
him
.
"
I
ca
n't
eat
,
and
I
suppose
it
wo
n't
hurt
you
if
I
take
my
wine
at
once
,
"
he
said
.
It
went
against
the
grain
with
him
,
even
yet
,
that
he
could
not
wait
till
the
cloth
was
gone
from
the
table
,
but
his
impatience
for
the
only
sustenance
that
he
could
take
was
too
much
for
him
.
"
But
you
should
eat
something
,
sir
;
will
you
have
a
bit
of
toast
to
sop
in
your
wine
?
"
The
word
"
sop
"
was
badly
chosen
,
and
made
the
old
Squire
angry
.
"
Sopped
toast
!
why
am
I
to
spoil
the
only
thing
I
can
enjoy
?
"
"
But
the
wine
would
do
you
more
good
if
you
would
take
something
with
it
.
"
"
Good
!
Nothing
will
do
me
any
good
any
more
.
As
for
eating
,
you
know
I
ca
n't
eat
.
What
's
the
use
of
bothering
me
?
"
Then
he
filled
his
second
glass
,
and
paused
awhile
before
he
put
it
to
his
lips
.
He
never
exceeded
four
glasses
,
but
the
four
he
was
determined
that
he
would
have
,
as
long
as
he
could
lift
them
to
his
mouth
.
Kate
finished
,
or
pretended
to
finish
,
her
dinner
within
five
minutes
,
in
order
that
the
table
might
be
made
to
look
comfortable
for
him
.
Then
she
poked
the
fire
,
and
brushed
up
the
hearth
,
and
closed
the
old
curtains
with
her
own
hands
,
moving
about
silently
.
As
she
moved
his
eye
followed
