312
WYLDER'S HAJVD.
trie gust had displaced for a moment, revealing gross and
somewhat repulsive features were being readjusted, while
each looked over his shoulder.
I am sorry to say that when that good man, Mr. Lar-
kin, left his presence, Captain £ake indulged in a perfect-
ly blasphemous monologue. His fury was excited to a
pitch that was very nearly ungovernable; and after it
had exhibited itself in the way I have said, Captain Lake
opened a little despatch-box, and took therefrom a foreign
letter, but three days received. He read it through: his
ill-omened smile expanded to a grin that was undisguisedly
diabolical. With a scissors he dipt his own name where
it occurred from the thin sheet, and then, in red ink and
Roman capitals, he scrawled a line or two across the inte-
rior of the letter, enclosed it in an envelope, directed it,
and then rang the bell.
He ordered the tax-cart and two horses to drive tan-
dem. The Captain was rather a good whip, and he drove
at a great pace to Dollington, took the train on to Char-
teris, there posted his letter, and so returned; his temper
continuing savage all that evening, and in a modified de-
gree in the same state for several days after.
CHAPTER LI.
AN OLD FRIEND LOOKS INTO THE GARDEN AT REDMAN'S
FARM.
Lady Chblford, with one of those sudden changes of
front which occur in female strategy, on hearing that
Stanley Lake was actually accepted by Dorcas, had as-