412
WYLDER'S HAJVD.
deserve the ruin you are inviting, and the remorse that
will follow you to your grave."
But respecting good Mr. Larkin, you are, indeed, in
error; I am sure you have quite misunderstood him. You
don't know how kind — how disinterestedly good he has
been; and now, my dear Miss Lake, it is too late — quite
too late."
'' No; it is not too late. Such wickedness as that can-
not be lawful — I won't believe the law allows it," cried
Rachel Lake. "It is all a fraud — even if you have
signed — all a fraud. You must procure able advice at
once. Your enemy is that dreadful Mr. Larkin. Write
to some good attorney in London. I'll pay everything."
"But, dear Miss Lake, I can't," said the Vicar, de-
jectedly; "I am bound in honor and conscience not to
disturb it — I have written to Messrs. Burlington and
Smith to that effect. I assure you, dear Miss Lake, we
have not acted inconsiderately — nothing has been done
without careful and deep consideration."
"I am going into the town, Dolly, and so are you,"
said Rachel, after a little pause. "Let us go together."
And to this Dolly readily assented; and the Vicar, evi-
dently much troubled in mind, having run up to the nurs-
ery to see his little man, the two ladies set out together.
Rachel saw that she had made an impression upon Dolly,
and was resolved to carry her point. So, in earnest terms,
again she conjured her, at least, to lay the whole matter
lofirc some friend on whom she could rely; and Dolly,
alarmed and eager, quite agreed with Rachel, that the sale
must be stopped, and she would do whatever dear Rachel
bid her.
"But do you think Mr. Larkin really supposes that poor
Mark is dead?"
"I do, dear — I suspect he knows it."