WYLDER'S HAJVD.
44y
ed, was rolled in Lake's pocket-book, and the bright new
deed which made Jos Larkin, of the Lodge, Esq. master
of Five Oaks, was safely locked into the box, under his
. long arm, and the attorney vanished, bowing very much,
and concealing his elation under a solemn sort of nonchal-
ance.
The note, which by this time the Vicar had received,
though short, was on the whole, tremendous. It said : —
'{Private.)
"Rev. and Dear Sir,—I have this moment arrived
from London, where I regret to state the negotiation on
which we both relied to carry you comfortably over your
difficulties has fallen through, in consequence of what I
cannot but regard as the inexcusable caprice of the intend-
ing purchaser. He declines stating any reason for his
withdrawal. I fear that the articles were so artfully framed
by his solicitors, that we shall find it impossible to compel
him to carry out what, in the strongest terms, I have rep-
resented to Messrs. Burlington and Smith as a bargain
irrevocably concluded in point of honor and morality. The
refusal of their client to make the proposed investment has
alarmed those gentlemen, I regret to add, for the safety of
their costs, which, as I before apprised you, are, though I
cannot say excessive, certainly very heavy; and I fear
we must be prepared for extreme measures upon their part.
I have carefully reconsidered the very handsome proposal
which Miss Lake was so good as to submit; but the result is
that, partly on technical, and partly on other grounds, I
continue of the clear opinion that the idea is absolutely im-
practicable, and must be peremptorily laid aside in attempt-
ing to arrive at an estimate of any resources which you may
be conscious of commanding. If, under these untoward cir-
cumstances, you still think I can be of any use to you,