WYLDER'S HAJVD.
881
said, and only the dreadful questions rising to his mouth,
"Can anything be done! Will the people come to-
day?"
Mr. Larkin explained the constitutional respect for the
Sabbath.
"It would be better, sir — the publicity of an arrest"
(it was a hard word to utter) "in the town would be very
painful — it would be better, I think, that I should walk
over to the prison — it is only six miles — and see the
authorities there, and give myself up."
And his lip quivered; he was thinking of the leave-
taking — of poor Dolly and little Fairy.
"I've a great objection to speak of business to-day,"
said Mr. Larkin, holily; "but I may mention that Bur-
lington and Smith have written very sternly; and the
fact is, my dear sir, we must look the thing straight in the
face; they are determined to go through with it; and you
know my opinion all along about the infatuation of hesi-
tating about the sale of that miserable reversion, which
they could have disposed of on fair terms. In fact, sir,
'they look upon it that you don't wan't to pay them, and,
of course, they are very angry."
"I'm sure I was wrong. I'm such a fool!"
"I must only go to the Sheriff the first thing in the
morning, and beg of him to hold over that thing, you
know, until I have heard from Burlington and Smith;
and I suppose I may say to them-that you see the neces-
sity of disposing of the reversion, and agree to sell it if it
be not too late."
The Vicar assented; indeed, he had grown, under this
urgent pressure, as nervously anxious to sell as he had
been to retain it."
"I'll be very happy to see you to-morrow, if you can
conveniently look in — say at twelve, or half-past, to re-
port progress."