But it would be folly--worse than folly--if you were
to allow your furniture to be seized when the means of
preventing it are so ready to your hand. By leaving the
new bill in Forrest's hands you may be sure that you are
safe from the claws of such birds of prey as these Tozers.
Even if I cannot get it settled when the three months are
over, Forrest will enable you to make any arrangement that
may be most convenient.
For Heaven's sake, my dear fellow, do not refuse this.
You can hardly conceive how it weighs upon me, this fear
that bailiffs should make their way into your wife's
drawing-room. I know you think ill of me, and I do not
wonder at it. But you would be less inclined to do so if
you knew how terribly I am punished. Pray let me hear that
you will do as I counsel you.
Yours always faithfully,
N. SOWERBY.
In answer to which the parson wrote a very short reply:--
Framley, July, 185--.
MY DEAR SOWERBY,
I will sign no more bills on any consideration.
Yours truly,
MARK ROBARTS.
And then having written this, and having shown it to his wife, he
returned to the shrubbery walk and paced it up and down, looking
every now and then to Sowerby's letter as he thought over all the
past circumstances of his friendship with that gentleman.
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