Judging of
his friend's character by what he had hitherto seen, he thought that
Mr. Sowerby would have kept out of the way, unless he had it in his
power to make some provision for these terrible bills. So he walked
up and down the dingy room, impatient for the expected arrival, and
thought himself wickedly ill-used in that Mr. Sowerby was not there
when the clock struck a quarter to three. But when the clock struck
three, Mr. Sowerby was there, and Mark Robarts's hopes were nearly at
an end.
"Do you mean that they will demand nine hundred pounds?" said
Robarts, standing up and glaring angrily at the member of Parliament.
"I fear that they will," said Sowerby. "I think it is best to tell
you the worst, in order that we may see what can be done."
"I can do nothing, and will do nothing," said Robarts. "They may do
what they choose--what the law allows them." And then he thought of
Fanny and his nursery, and Lucy refusing in her pride Lord Lufton's
offer, and he turned away his face that the hard man of the world
before him might not see the tear gathering in his eye.
"But, Mark, my dear fellow--" said Sowerby, trying to have recourse
to the power of his cajoling voice. Robarts, however, would not
listen.
"Mr. Sowerby," said he, with an attempt at calmness which betrayed
itself at every syllable, "it seems to me that you have robbed
me.
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