Walcot. It is paying
too dear for the fancy. The Hopes are wretchedly pinched for money.
They have dropped their subscription to the book club."

"I am very sorry to hear it. I would give half I am worth that it were
otherwise."

"Give it them at once, then, and it will be otherwise."

"I would, gladly; but they will not take it."

"I advise you to try, however; it would make such a pretty romantic
story!--Well, Mr Grey is extremely mortified at their withdrawing from
the book club. He remonstrated very strongly indeed."

"That does not agree very well with his paying their rent for them."

"Perfectly well. He thinks that if he undertakes the large thing, for
the sake of their credit, they might have managed the small. This is
his way of viewing the matter, no doubt. He sees how their credit will
suffer by their giving up the book club. He sees how everybody will
remark upon it."

"So do they, I have no doubt."

"And the matter will not be mended by Sophia Grey's nonsense. What
absurd things that girl does! I wonder her mother allows it,--only
that, to be sure, she is not much wiser herself. Sophia has told some
of her acquaintance, and all Deerbrook will hear it before long, that
her cousins have withdrawn from the book club on account of Hester's
situation; that they are to be so busy with the baby that is coming,
that they will have no time to read."

"As long as the Hopes are above false pretences, they need not care for
such as are made for them. There! show mamma what a nice plump walnut
you have cracked for her."

"Nicely done, my pet. But, Mr Rowland, the Hopes cannot hold out.
They cannot possibly stay here. You will not get their rent at
Christmas, depend upon it."

"I shall not press them for it, I assure you."

"Then you will be unjust to your family. You owe it to your children,
to say nothing of myself, to look after your property."

"I owe it to them not to show myself a harsh landlord to excellent
tenants. But we need not trouble ourselves about what will happen at
Christmas. It may be that the rent will make its appearance on the
morning of quarter-day."

"Then, if not, you will give them notice that the house is let from the
next quarter, will you not?"

"By no means, my dear."

"If you do not like to undertake the office yourself, perhaps you will
let me do it. I have a good deal of courage about doing disagreeable
things, on occasion."

"You have, my dear; bu