But then Lady Lufton had given
him a living and a wife, and Mrs. Proudie had given him nothing.
Immediately after breakfast Mr. Robarts escaped to the Dragon of
Wantly, partly because he had had enough of the matutinal Mrs.
Proudie, and partly also in order that he might hurry his friends
there. He was already becoming fidgety about the time, as Harold
Smith had been on the preceding evening, and he did not give Mrs.
Smith credit for much punctuality. When he arrived at the inn he
asked if they had done breakfast, and was immediately told that not
one of them was yet down. It was already half-past eight, and they
ought to be now under weigh on the road. He immediately went to Mr.
Sowerby's room, and found that gentleman shaving himself. "Don't be a
bit uneasy," said Mr. Sowerby. "You and Smith shall have my phaeton,
and those horses will take you there in an hour. Not, however, but
what we shall all be in time. We'll send round to the whole party and
ferret them out." And then Mr. Sowerby, having evoked manifold aid
with various peals of the bell, sent messengers, male and female,
flying to all the different rooms.
"I think I'll hire a gig and go over at once," said Mark. "It would
not do for me to be late, you know."
"It won't do for any of us to be late; and it's all nonsense about
hiring a gig.
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