She was not the sort of woman to do that. But
one thing she resolved to do; and it was, to go to
Lymport with Louisa, and having once got her out of
her dwelling-place, never to allow her to enter it,
wherever it might be, in the light of a resident again.
Whether anything but the menace of a participation
in her conjugal possessions could have despatched her
to that hateful place, I doubt. She went:
she would not let Andrew be out of her sight.
Growing haughtier toward him at every step, she advanced
to the strange old shop. Evan Harrington
over the door! There the Countess, having meantime
returned to her state of womanhood, shared her shudders.
They entered, and passed in to Mrs. Mel, leaving their
footman, apparently, in the rear. Evan was not
visible. A man in the shop, with a yard measure
negligently adorning his shoulders, said that Mr. Harrington
was in the habit of quitting the shop at five.
‘Deuced good habit, too,’ said Andrew.
‘Why, sir,’ observed another, stepping
forward, ’as you truly say—yes.
But—ah! Mr. Andrew Cogglesby?
Pleasure of meeting you once in Fallow field!
Remember Mr. Perkins?—the lawyer, not the
maltster. Will you do me the favour to step out
with me?’
Andrew followed him into the street.
‘Are you aware of our young friend’s good
fortune?’ said Lawyer Perkins. ’Yes.
Ah! Well!—Would you believe that any
sane person in his condition, now—nonsense
apart—could bring his mind wilfully to continue
a beggar? No. Um! Well; Mr. Cogglesby,
I may tell you that I hold here in my hands a document
by which Mr. Evan Harrington transfers the whole of
the property bequeathed to him to Lady Jocelyn, and
that I have his orders to execute it instantly, and
deliver it over to her ladyship, after the will is
settled, probate, and so forth: I presume there
will be an arrangement about his father’s debts.
Now what do you think of that?’
‘Think, sir,—think!’ cried
Andrew, cocking his head at him like an indignant
bird, ’I think he’s a damned young idiot
to do so, and you’re a confounded old rascal
to help him.’
Leaving Mr. Perkins to digest his judgement, which
he had solicited, Andrew bounced back into the shop.
IN WHICH THE SHOP BECOMES THE CENTRE OF ATTRACTION
Under the first lustre of a May-night, Evan was galloping
over the moon-shadowed downs toward Beckley.
At the ridge commanding the woods, the park, and the
stream, his horse stopped, as if from habit, snorted,
and puffed its sides, while he gazed steadily across
the long lighted vale. Soon he began to wind
down the glaring chalk-track, and reached grass levels.
Here he broke into a round pace, till, gaining the
first straggling cottages of the village, he knocked
the head of his whip against the garden-gate of one,
and a man came out, who saluted him, and held the
reins.
