CHAPTER III. MR. YORKE.

eswereallsunny.Therewasaguitarandsomemusiconasofatherewerecameos,beautifulminiaturesasetofGrecian-lookingvasesonthemantelpiecetherewerebookswellarrangedintwoelegantbookcases. Mr.Yorkebadehisguestsbeseated.Hethenrangforwine.Totheservantwhobroughtithegavehospitableordersfortherefreshmentofthemeninthekitchen.Therectorremainedstandingheseemednottolikehisquartershewouldnottouchthewinehishostofferedhim. "E'enasyouwill,"remarkedMr.Yorke."Ireckonyou'rethinkingofEasterncustoms,Mr.Helstone,andyou'llnoteatnordrinkundermyroof,fearedwesuldbeforcedtobefriendsbutIamnotsoparticularorsuperstitious.Youmightsupthecontentsofthatdecanter,andyoumightgivemeabottleofthebestinyourowncellar,andI'dholdmyselffreetoopposeyouateveryturnstill—ineveryvestry-meetingandjustice-meetingwhereweencounteredoneanother." "ItisjustwhatIshouldexpectofyou,Mr.Yorke." "Doesitagreewi'yenow,Mr.Helstone,toberidingoutafterrioters,ofawetnight,atyourage?" "Italwaysagreeswithmetobedoingmydutyandinthiscasemydutyisathoroughpleasure.Tohuntdownverminisanobleoccupation,fitforanarchbishop." "Fitforye,atonyrate.Butwhere'st'curate?He'shappengonetovisitsomepoorbodyinasickgird,orhe'shappenhuntingdownvermininanotherdirection." "Heisdoinggarrison-dutyatHollow'sMill." "Youlefthimasupo'wine,Ihope,Bob"(turningtoMr.Moore),"tokeephiscourageup?" Hedidnotpauseforananswer,butcontinued,quickly,stilladdressingMoore,whohadthrownhimselfintoanold-fashionedchairbythefireside—"Moveit,Robert!Getup,mylad!Thatplaceismine.Takethesofa,orthreeotherchairs,ifyouwill,butnotthis.Itbelangstome,andnob'dyelse." "Whyareyousoparticulartothatchair,Mr.Yorke?"askedMoore,lazilyvacatingtheplaceinobediencetoorders. "Myfatherwaraforeme,andthat'sallt'answerIsallgietheeandit'sasgoodareasonasMr.Helstonecangiveforthemainfecko'hisnotions." "Moore,areyoureadytogo?"inquiredtherector. "NayRobert'snotready,orrather,I'mnotreadytopartwi'him.He'sanilllad,andwantscorrecting." "Why,sir?WhathaveIdone?" "Madethyselfenemiesoneveryhand." "WhatdoIcareforthat?WhatdifferencedoesitmaketomewhetheryourYorkshireloutshatemeorlikeme?" "Ay,thereitis.Theladisamak'ofanalienamangus.Hisfatherwouldneverhavetalkedi'thatway.—GobacktoAntwerp,whereyouwerebornandbred,mauvaisetête!" "Mauvaisetêtevous-mêmejenefaisquemondevoirquantàvoslourdaudsdepaysans,jem'enmoque!" "Enravanche,mongar?on,noslourdaudsdepaysanssemoquerontdetoisoisencertain,"repliedYorke,speakingwithnearlyaspureaFrenchaccentasGérardMoore. "C'estbon!c'estbon!Etpuisquecelam'estégal,quemesamisnes'eninquiètentpas." "Tesamis!Oùsont-ils,tesamis?" "Jefaisécho,oùsont-ils?etjesuisfortaisequel'échoseulyrépond.Audiablelesamis!JemesouviensencoredumomentoùmonpèreetmesonclesGérardappellèrentautourd'euxleursamis,etDieusaitsilesamissesontempressésd'accouriràleursecours!Tenez,M.Yorke,cemot,ami,m'irritetropnem'enparlezplus." "Commetuvoudras." AndhereMr.Yorkeheldhispeaceandwhilehesitsleaningbackinhisthree-corneredcarvedoakchair,IwillsnatchmyopportunitytosketchtheportraitofthisFrench-speakingYorkshiregentleman.