WYLDER'S HAJVD.
189
me recommend you seeing your legal adviser, whoever he
is, immediately."
"You mean," said the Vicar, who was by this time
very much flushed, "a gentleman of your profession, Mr.
Larkin. Do you really think — well, it has frequently
crossed my mind — but the expense, you know; and al-
though my affairs are in a most complicated state, I am
sure that everything would be perfectly smooth if only I
had received the loan my kind brother intends.
"But, my dear sir, do you really mean to say that you
would pay claims from various quarters — how old is this,
for instance ? — without examination!"
The Vicar looked very blank.
"I — this— well, this I certainly do owe; it has in-
creased a litttle with interest, though good Mr. Mountain
never charged more than six per cent. It was I think,
about fifteen pounds — books — I am ashamed to say how
long ago.
"Were you of age, my dear sir, when he gave you these
books on credit?"
"Oh! no; not twenty; but then I owe it, and I could
not, as a Christian man, you know, evade my debts."
"Of course; but you can't pay it at present, and it
may be highly important to enable you to treat this as a
debt of honor, you perceive. Suppose, my dear sir, they
should proceed to arrest you, or to sequestrate the revenue
of your vicarage. I really must tell you, frankly, that if
you dream of escaping the most serious consequences,
you must at once place yourself and your affairs in the
hands of a competent man of business. It will probably
be found that you do not in reality owe sixty pounds of
very hundred claimed against you."
u Oh! Mr. Larkin, if I could induce you."
Mr. Larkin smiled a melancholy smile, and shook his
head.