o'clock, to which he sent an answer, whereupon the solicitor despatched a
special messenger, one of his clerks to Dollington, with a letter to the
sheriff's deputy, from whom he received duly a reply, which necessitated
a second letter with a formal undertaking, to which came another reply;
whereupon he wrote to Burlington, Smith, and Co., acquainting them
respectfully, in diplomatic fashion, with the attitude which affairs had
assumed.

With this went a private and confidential, non-official, note to Smith,
desiring him to answer stiffly and press for an immediate settlement, and
to charge costs fairly, as Mr. William Wylder would have ample funds to
liquidate them. Smith knew what _fairly_ meant, and his entries went down
accordingly. By the same post went up to the same firm a proposition--an
afterthought--sanctioned by a second miniature correspondence with his
client, now sailing before the wind, to guarantee them against loss
consequent against staying the execution in the sheriff's hands for a
fortnight, which, if they agreed to, they were further requested to send
a draft of the proposed undertaking by return, at foot of which, in
pencil, he wrote, 'N.B.--_Yes_.'

This arrangement necessitated his providing himself with a guarantee from
the vicar; and so the little account as between the vicar and Jos.
Larkin, solicitor, and the vicar and Messrs. Burlington, Smith, and Co.,
solicitors, grew up and expanded with a tropical luxuriance.

About the same time--while Mr. Jos. Larkin, I mean, was thinking over
Miss Dorkie's share in the deed, with a complacent sort of interest,
anticipating a struggle, but sure of victory--that beautiful young lady
was walking slowly from flower to flower, in the splendid conservatory
which projects southward from the house, and rears itself in glacial