72
WYLDER'S HAJVD.
his absence, Miss Anne Driver — answered questions, and
transacted affairs officially.
In the rear of this establishment were kept some dogs
of Lawyer Larkin's; and just as the ladies arrived, that
person emerged, looking overpoweringly gentlemanlike, in
a white hat, grey paletot, lavender trowsers, and white
riding gloves. He was in a righteous and dignified way
pleased to present himself in so becoming a costume, and
moreover in good company, for Stanley Lake was going
with him to Dutton for a day's sport, which neither of
them cared for. But Stanley hoped to pump the attor-
ney, and the attorney, I'm afraid, liked being associated
with the fashionable Captain; and so they were each
pleased in the way that suited them.
The attorney, being long as well as lank, bad to stoop
under the doorway, but drew himself up handsomely on
coming out, and assumed his easy, high-bred style, which,
although he was not aware of it, was very nearly insup-
portable, and smiled very engagingly, and meant to talk a
little about the weather; but Miss Brandon made him one
of her gravest and slightest bows, and suddenly saw Mrs.
Brown at her shop door on the other side, and had a word
to say to her.
And now Stanley Lake drew up in the tax-cart, and
greeted the ladies, and \6ld them how he meant to pass the
day; and the dogs being.put in, and the attorney, I'm
afraid a little spited at his reception, in possession of the
reins, they drove down the little street at a great pace, and
disappeared round the corner; and in a minute more
the young ladies, in the opposite direction, resumed their
drive. The ponies, being grave and trustworthy, and
having the road quite to themselves, needed little looking
after, and Miss Brandon was free to converse with her com-
panion.