y stepped up at the moment. "They
are expected in the docks to-morrow."

CHAPTER VII.

MISS BROWN PLEADS HER OWN CASE, AND MR. ROBINSON WALKS ON BLACKFRIARS
BRIDGE.

At the time of Mrs. McCockerell's death Robinson and Maryanne Brown
were not on comfortable terms with each other. She had twitted him
with being remiss in asserting his own rights in the presence of his
rival, and he had accused her of being fickle, if not actually false.

"I shall be just as fickle as I please," she said. "If it suits me
I'll have nine to follow me; but there shan't be one of the nine who
won't hold up his head and look after his own."

"Your conduct, Maryanne--."

"George, I won't be scolded, and that you ought to know. If you don't
like me, you are quite welcome to do the other thing." And then they
parted. This took place after Mr. Brown's adherence to the Robinson
interest, and while Brisket was waiting passively to see if that five
hundred pounds would be forthcoming.

Their next meeting was in the presence of Mr. Brown; and on that
occasion all the three spoke out their intentions on the subject of
their future family arrangements, certainly with much plain language,
if not on every side with positive truth. Mr. Robinson was at the
house in Smithfield, giving counsel to old Mr. Brown as to the
contest which was then being urged between him and his son-in-law.
At that period the two sisters conceived that their joint pecuniary
interests required that they should act together; and it must be
acknowledged that they led poor Mr. Brown a sad life of it. He and
Robinson were sitting upstairs in the little back room looking out
into Spavinhorse Yard, when Maryanne abruptly broke in upon them.

"Father," she said, standing upright in the middle of the room before
them, "I have come to know what it is that you mean to do?"

"To do, my dear?" said old Mr. Brown.

"Yes; to do. I suppose something is to be done some day. We ain't
always to go on shilly-shallying, spending the money, and ruining the
business, and living from hand to mouth, as though there was no end
to anything. I've got myself to look to, and I don't mean to go into
the workhouse if I can help it!"

"The workhouse, Maryanne!"

"I said the workhouse, father, and I meant it. If everybody had what
was justly their own, I shouldn't have to talk in that way. But as
far as I can see, them sharks, the lawyers, will have it all. Now,
I'll tell you what it is--"