Lady Mary was very kind; but had Lady Mary of her own mere motion taken all
this trouble? Was there no more energetic influence at the bottom of
that welcome chest of books, which arrived only half an hour later? The
circulating library of those days was not the epidemic and ubiquitous
influence to which it has grown; and there were many places where it could
not find you out.
Altogether that evening Bartram had acquired a peculiar beauty--a bright
and mellow glow, in which even its gate-posts and wheelbarrow were
interesting, and next day came a little cloud--Dudley appeared.
'You may be sure he wants money,' said Milly. 'He and father had words this
morning.'
He took a chair at our luncheon, found fault with everything in his own
laconic dialect, ate a good deal notwithstanding, and was sulky, and with
Milly snappish. To me, on the contrary, when Milly went into the hall, he
was mild and whimpering, and disposed to be confidential.
'There's the Governor says he hasn't a bob! Danged if I know how an old
fellah in his bed-room muddles away money at that rate. I don't suppose he
thinks I can git along without tin, and he knows them trustees won't gi'e
me a tizzy till they get what they calls an opinion--dang 'em! Bryerly says
he doubts it must all go under settlement.
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