Hitherto
Mark had hoped that perhaps, after all, no absolutely hostile steps
would be taken against him with reference to these bills. Some
unforeseen chance might occur in his favour, or the persons holding
them might consent to take small instalments of payment from time to
time; but now it seemed that the evil day was actually coming upon
him at a blow. He had no longer any secrets from his wife. Should he
go to a lawyer? and if so, to what lawyer? And when he had found his
lawyer, what should he say to him? Mrs. Robarts at one time suggested
that everything should be told to Lady Lufton. Mark, however, could
not bring himself to do that. "It would seem," he said, "as though I
wanted her to lend me the money."
On the following morning Mark did ride into Barchester, dreading,
however, lest he should be arrested on his journey, and he did see a
lawyer. During his absence two calls were made at the parsonage--one
by a very rough-looking individual, who left a suspicious document
in the hands of the servant, purporting to be an invitation--not to
dinner--from one of the Judges of the land; and the other call was
made by Lady Lufton in person.
Mrs. Robarts had determined to go down to Framley Court on that day.
In accordance with her usual custom she would have been there within
an hour or two of Lady Lufton's return from London, but things
between them were not now as they usually had been.
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