264
WYLDER'S HJlJVD.
The attorney spoke in the same dry and reserved way,
and there was a shadow on his long face.
"I am afraid I have, quite unintentionally, offended
you, Mr. Larkin — perhaps in my ignorance of business;
and I feel that I should be quite ruined if I were to for-
feit your good offices; and, pray tell me, if I have said
any thing I ought not."
"Oh, no — nothing I assure you," replied Mr. Larkin,
with a lofty and gentle dryness. "Only, I think, I
have, perhaps, a little mistaken the relation in which I
stood, and fancied, wrongly, it was in the light somewhat
of a friend as well as of a professional adviser; and
I thought, perhaps, I had rather more of your confidence
than I had any right to, and did not at first see the necessity
of calling in Lord Chelford, whose experience of business
is necessarily very limited, to direct you. You remem-
ber, my dear Mr. Wylder, that I did not at all invite these
relations; and I don't think you will charge me with
want of zeal in your business."
"Oh! my dear Mr. Larkin, my dear sir, you have
been my preserver, my benefactor — in fact, under Heav-
en, very nearly my last and only hope."
"Well, I had hoped I was not remiss or wanting in dili-
gence."
d Mr. Larkin took his seat in his most gentleman-
hion, crossing his long legs, and throwing his tall
.ck, raising his eyebrows, and letting his mouth
- drop a little open.
'i was, that Lord Chelford would see more
was best for little Fairy. I am so very
ly about business, and you so much my
sund you so — that you might think only
^, consider the little boy," said Mr.
'i
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