letters, and was undecided--a third was heard of, but the locality
was doubtful, and the plan went off, because Mr. Kendal could not
make up his mind to go thirty miles to see the place, and talk to a
stranger.

Albinia found that her power did not extend beyond driving him from
'I'll see about it,' to 'Yes, by all means.' Action was a length to
which he could not be brought. Mr. Nugent was very anxious that he
should qualify as a magistrate since a sensible, highly-principled
man was much wanted counterbalance Admiral Osborn's misdirected,
restless activity and the lower parts of the town were in a dreadful
state. Mrs. Nugent talked to Albinia, and she urged it in vain. To
come out of his study, examine felons, contend with the Admiral, and
to meet all the world at the quarter sessions, was abhorrent to him,
and he silenced her almost with sternness.

She was really hurt and vexed, and scarcely less so by a discovery
that she made shortly after. The hot weather had made the houses
beneath the hill more close and unwholesome than ever, Simkins's wife
had fallen into a lingering illness, and Albinia, visiting her
constantly, was painfully sensible of the dreadful atmosphere in
which she lived, under the roof, with a window that would not open.
She offered to have the house improved at her own expense, but was
told that Mr. Pettilove would raise the rent if anything were laid
out on it. She went about talking indignantly of Mr. Pettilove's
cruelty and rapacity, and when Mr. Dusautoy hinted that Pettilove was
only agent, she exclaimed that the owner was worse, since ignorance
alone could be excused. Who was the wretch? Some one, no doubt, who
never came near the place, and only thought of it as money.