420
WYLDER'S HAJVD.
him — the Vicar. What exactly he had done to dis-
oblige them he could not bring to mind. But "they still
express themselves dissatisfied upon the point, and appear
to suspect a disposition to shilly-shally." I have said
"all I could to disabuse them of the unpleasant prejudice;
but I think I should hardly be doing my duty if I were
not to warn you that you will do wisely to exhibit no
hesitation in the arrangements by which your agreement
is to be carried out, and that in the event of your showing
the slightest disposition to qualify the spirit of your strong
note to them, or in anywise disappointing their client, you
must be prepared, from what I know of the firm, for very
sharp practice indeed."
This letter would almost seem to have been written
with a supernatural knowledge of what was passing in
Gylingden, and was certainly well contrived to prevent
the Vicar from wavering.
But all this time the ladies are conversing in Dorcas's
boudoir.
"This election frightens me, Radie — everything
frightens me now — but this is so audacious. If there be
powers either in Heaven or hell, it seems like a defiance
and an invocation. I am glad you are here, Radie — I
have grown so nervous — so superstitious, I believe;
watching always for signs and omens. Oh, darling, the
world's ghastly for me now."
"I wish, Dorcas, we were away — as you used to say
— in some wild and solitaryre treat, living together — two
recluses — but all that is visionary — quite visionary
now."
Dorcas sighed.
"You know, Bachel, the world must not see this — we
will carry our heads high. Wicked men and brave and
suffering women —	hat is the history of our family — and