398
WYLDER'S HJ1JY&.
right; but one day is as good as another; and you have
got my agreement signed."
"Pardon me, Captain Brandon Lake; the fact is, one
day, in this case, does not answer as well as another, for
I must have drafts of the deeds prepared by my convey-
ancer in town, and the note is indispensable. Perhaps,
if there is any difficulty, you will be so good as to say so,
and I shall then be in a position to consider the case in
its new aspect."
"What the devil difficulty can there be, sir? I can't
see it, any more than what hurry can possibly exist about
it," said Lake, stung with a momentary fury. It seemed
as though everyone was conspiring to perplex and torment
him; and he, like the poor Vicar, though for very different
reasons, had grown intensely anxious to sell. He had
grown to dread the attorney, since the arrival of Dutton's
letter.
"There is no difficulty about the note, sir; it contains
but four lines, and I've given you the form. No difficulty
can exist but in the one quarter; and the fact is," he
added, steadily, "unless I have that note before I leave
to-morrow morning, I'll assume that you wish to be off,
Captain Lake, and I will adapt myself to circumstances."
"You may have it now," said the Captain, with a fierce
carelessness. "D—d nonsense! Who could have fancied
any such stupid hurry? Send in the morning, and you
shall have it." And the Captain, rather savagely turned
away, skirting the crowd who hovered about the band, in
his leisurely and now solitary ramble.
The Captain was sullen that evening at home. He was
very uncomfortable. His heart was failing him for the
things that were coming to pass. One of his maniacal
tempers, which had often before thrown him, as it were
"off the rails," was at the bottom Of his immediate troubles.