Gumption.
According to his ideas Sowerby was attempting to cheat the duke. It
may be imagined, therefore, that Mr. Sowerby did not feel any very
great delight in attending at South Audley Street. And then rumour
was spread about among all the bill-discounting leeches that blood
was once more to be sucked from the Sowerby carcass. The rich Miss
Dunstable had taken up his affairs; so much as that became known in
the purlieus of the Goat and Compasses. Tom Tozer's brother declared
that she and Sowerby were going to make a match of it, and that any
scrap of paper with Sowerby's name on it would become worth its
weight in bank-notes; but Tom Tozer himself--Tom, who was the real
hero of the family--pooh-poohed at this, screwing up his nose, and
alluding in most contemptuous terms to his brother's softness. He
knew better--as was indeed the fact. Miss Dunstable was buying up the
squire, and by Jingo she should buy them up--them, the Tozers, as
well as others! They knew their value, the Tozers did;--whereupon
they became more than ordinarily active. From them and all their
brethren Mr. Sowerby at this time endeavoured to keep his distance,
but his endeavours were not altogether effectual. Whenever he could
escape for a day or two from the lawyers he ran down to Chaldicotes;
but Tom Tozer in his perseverance followed him there, and boldly sent
in his name by the servant at the front door.
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