WYLDER'S HAJVD.
13
"I'm glad you're come, Charlie; you were always a
good fellow, and I really want a hand here confoundedly.
I think it will all do very nicely; but, of course, there's
a lot of things to be arranged — settlements, you know —
and I can't make head or tail of their lingo, and a fellow
don't like to sign and seal hand over head: and Chelford
is a very good fellow, of course, and all that — but he's
taking care of Dorcas, you see; and I might be left in the
lurch."
"It is a better way, at all events, Mark, than Wylder
versus Trustees of Brandon, minor," said I.
"Well, things do turn out very oddly; don't they?"
said Mark, with a sly glance of complacency, and his hands
in his pockets. "But I know you'll hold the tiller till I
get through; hang me, if I know the soundings, or where
I'm going; and you have the chart by heart, Charlie."
"I'm afraid you'll find me by no means so well up now
as six years ago in " Wylder and Brandon ;" but surely
you have your lawyer, Mr. Larkin, haven't you?"
"To be sure — that's exactly it — he's Dorcas's agent.
I don't know anything about him, and I do know you —
don't you see? A fellow doesn't want to put himself in-
to the hands of a stranger altogether, especially a lawyer,
ha, ha! it wouldn't pay."
I did not half like the equivocal office which my friend
had prepared for me. If family squabbles were to arise,
I had no fancy to mix in them; and I did not want a col-
lision with Mr. Larkin either; and, on the whole, not-
withstanding his modesty, I thought Wylder very well
able to take care of himself. There was time enough,
however, to settle the point. So by this time, being splen-
did in French boots and white vest, and altogether perfect
and refreshed, I emerged from my dressing-room, Wyl-
der by my side.