WYLDER'S HAJVD.
365
The Vicar would really receive just 2,200/. !" Costs"
would do something to reduce the balance, for Jos Lar-
kin was one of those oxen who, when treading out corn,
decline to be muzzled. The remainder was — the Vicar
would clearly understand — one of those ridiculous ped-
antries of law, upon which our system of crotchets and
fictions insisted. And William Wylder, whose character,
simply and sensitively honorable, Mr. Larkin appreciated,
was to write to Burlington and Smith a letter, for the
satisfaction of their speculative and nervous client, pledg-
ing his honor, that in the event of the sale being com-
pleted, he would never do, countenance, or permit, any act
or proceeding whatsoever, tending on any ground to im-
peach or invalidate the transaction.
Now while the improved " instrument" was in prepar-
ation, the attorney strolled down in the evening to look
after his clerical client, and keep him '' strait" for the
meeting at which he was to sign the articles next day.
It was by the drowsy faded light of a late summer's
evening that he arrived at the quaint little parsonage.
He maintained his character as "a nice spoken gentle-
man," by enquiring of the maid who opened the door how
the little boy was. "Not so well — gone to bed—but
would be better, every one was sure, in the morning." So
he went in and saw the Vicar, who had just returned with
Dolly from a little ramble.
"Well, my good invaluable friend, you will be glad —
you will rejoice with us, I know, to learn that, after all,
the sale of our reversion is unnecessary."
The attorney allowed his client to shake him by both
hands, and he smiled a sinister congratulation as well as he
could, grinning in reply to the Vicar's pleasant smile as
cheerfully as was feasible, and wofully puzzled in the
meantime. Had James Dutton arrived and announced the