WYLDER'S HAJVJD.
341
sheriff's deputy, from whom he received duly a reply,
which necessitated a second letter with a formal undertak-
ing, to which came another reply; whereupon he wrote to
Burlington, Smith, and Co. acquainting them respectfully, .
in diplomatic fashion, with the attitude which affairs had
assumed.
With this went a private and confidential, non-official,
note to Smith, desiring him to answer stiffly and press for
an immediate settlement, and to charge costs fairly, as
Mr. William Wylder would have ample funds to liquidate
them. Smith knew what fairly meant, and his entries
went down accordingly. By the same post went up to
the same firm a proposition — an after thought — sanc-
tioned by a second miniature correspondence with his cli-
ent, to guarantee them against loss consequent against
staying the execution in the sheriff's hands for a fortnight,
which, if they agreed to, they were further requested to
send a draft of the proposed undertaking by return, at
foot of which, in pencil, he wrote, "N. B. — Yes."
This arrangement necessitated his providing himself
with a guarantee from the Vicar; and so the little account
as between the Vicar and Jos Larkin, solicitor, and the
Vicar and Messrs. Burlington, Smith, and Co. solicitors,
grew up and expanded with a tropical luxuriance.
About the same time — while Mr. Jos Larkin, I mean,
was thinking over Miss Dorkie's share in the deed, with a
complacent sort of interest, anticipating a struggle, but
sure of victory — that beautiful young lady was walking
slowly from flower to flower, in the splendid conservatory
which projects southward from the house. The unspeak-
able sadness of wounded pride was on her beautiful fea-
tures, and there was a fondness in the gesture with which
she laid her fingers on these exotics and stooped over
them, which gave to her solitude a sentiment of the pa-
thetic.