XVYLDER'S HAJVD
193
The attorney stood at his window with a shadow on his
face, and his small eyes a little contracted and snakelike,
following the slim figure of the threadbare Vicar and his
goldenhaired, dancing little comrade; and then he mounted
a chair, and took down successively four of his japanned
boxes; two of them, in yellow letters, bore respectively the
label "Brandon, No. 1," and "No. 2;" the other,
"Wylder, No. 1." and "No. 2."
He opened the " Wylder" box first, and glanced through
a neat little "statement of title," prepared for counsel
when draughting the deed of settlement for the marriage
which was never to take place.
"The limitations, let me see, is not there something
that one might be safe in advancing a trifle upon — eh ? —
h'm — yes."
And, with his lip in his finger and thumb, he conned
over those remainders and reversions with a skilled and
rapid eye.
Rachel Lake was glad to see the slender and slightly-
stooped figure of the Vicar standing that morning — his
bright little boy by the hand — in the wicket of the tiny
flower-garden of Redman's Farm. She went out quickly
to greet him. The sick man likes the sounC of his kind
doctor's step on the stairs! and, be his skill much or little,
trusts in him, and will even joke a little asthmatic joke, .
and smile a feeble hectic smile about his ailments, when
he is present.
So they fell into discourse among the autumnal flowers
and withered leaves; and, as the day was still and genial,
they remained standing in the garden; and away went
busy little " Fairy," smiling and chatting with Margery
to see the hens and chickens in the yard.
They talked a long while — Rachel chiefly a listener,
and often quietly weeping; and, at last, a very kindly