CHAPTER IX.

otlikelytobeverypenetratinginhisjudgments,buthehadalwayshadasensethathisfather’sindulgencehadnotbeenkindness,andhadhadavaguelongingforsomedisciplinethatwouldhavecheckedhisownerrantweaknessandhelpedhisbetterwill.TheSquireatehisbreadandmeathastily,tookadeepdraughtofale,thenturnedhischairfromthetable,andbegantospeakagain. “It’llbealltheworseforyou,youknow—you’dneedtryandhelpmekeepthingstogether.” “Well,sir,I’veoftenofferedtotakethemanagementofthings,butyouknowyou’vetakenitillalways,andseemedtothinkIwantedtopushyououtofyourplace.” “Iknownothingo’yourofferingoro’mytakingitill,”saidtheSquire,whosememoryconsistedincertainstrongimpressionsunmodifiedbydetail“butIknow,onewhileyouseemedtobethinkingo’marrying,andIdidn’toffertoputanyobstaclesinyourway,assomefatherswould.I’daslieveyoumarriedLammeter’sdaughterasanybody.Isuppose,ifI’dsaidyounay,you’dha’keptonwithitbut,forwanto’contradiction,you’vechangedyourmind.You’reashilly-shallyfellow:youtakeafteryourpoormother.Sheneverhadawillofherownawomanhasnocallforone,ifshe’sgotapropermanforherhusband.Butyourwifehadneedhaveone,foryouhardlyknowyourownmindenoughtomakebothyourlegswalkoneway.Thelasshasn’tsaiddownrightshewon’thaveyou,hasshe?” “No,”saidGodfrey,feelingveryhotanduncomfortable“butIdon’tthinkshewill.” “Think!whyhaven’tyouthecouragetoaskher?Doyousticktoit,youwanttohaveher—that’sthething?” “There’snootherwomanIwanttomarry,”saidGodfrey,evasively. “Well,then,letmemaketheofferforyou,that’sall,ifyouhaven’ttheplucktodoityourself.Lammeterisn’tlikelytobeloathforhisdaughtertomarryintomyfamily,Ishouldthink.Andasfortheprettylass,shewouldn’thavehercousin—andthere’snobodyelse,asIsee,couldha’stoodinyourway.” “I’dratherletitbe,pleasesir,atpresent,”saidGodfrey,inalarm.“Ithinkshe’salittleoffendedwithmejustnow,andIshouldliketospeakformyself.Amanmustmanagethesethingsforhimself.” “Well,speak,then,andmanageit,andseeifyoucan’tturnoveranewleaf.That’swhatamanmustdowhenhethinkso’marrying.” “Idon’tseehowIcanthinkofitatpresent,sir.Youwouldn’tliketosettlemeononeofthefarms,Isuppose,andIdon’tthinkshe’dcometoliveinthishousewithallmybrothers.It’sadifferentsortoflifetowhatshe’sbeenusedto.” “Notcometoliveinthishouse?Don’ttellme.Youaskher,that’sall,”saidtheSquire,withashort,scornfullaugh. “I’dratherletthethingbe,atpresent,sir,”saidGodfrey.“Ihopeyouwon’ttrytohurryitonbysayinganything.” “IshalldowhatIchoose,”saidtheSqui