there was neglect, if not bullying
latterly. But he must miss Gregorio terribly. They had been together
for at least five-and-twenty or thirty years, and had plenty of gossip
together.'

'Whereas the present paternal despotism and appalling dignity and
gravity will keep him more dependent on his right congeners.'

'If they are of the right sort, that's all.'

'He has been making me read him a whole heap of letters; indeed, as you
know, I have been doing that all along, when he could not get Nuttie.
There were some from Mr. Bulfinch. Do you know that bailiff of his
must be next door to a swindler?'

'Bulfinch is coming up to see him to-morrow.'

'And, Mark, do you know, he has been putting out feelers as if to
discover whether we would do--what he asked us to do five years ago.'

'Would you?'

'If it were not for the children, and--and sometimes the extreme pinch,
I should say it was more like _life_ to work yourself up as a City
man,' said Annaple. 'If you were the Squire, with all his
opportunities, it would be a different thing, but there's no outlet
there, and I have often admired the wisdom of the Apocryphal saying,
"Make not thyself an underling to a foolish man."'

'Well, it is lucky you think so, Nannie, for though Dutton is certainly
not a foolish man, he will not want an underling. And what do you say
to my mother's proposal of having poor Poole to stay at Redcastle, and
borrowing baby to comfort her till she goes out again.

'I hate it,' said Annaple energetically. 'It is very horrid, but it is
awfully good of the Canoness; and I suppose we shall have to let it
come to pass, and miss all that most charming time of babyhood which is
coming. But most likely it will quite set the little woman up, and be
a real kindness to poor Poole.'

'If we could only keep her for good.'

'Yes, and then our children would not be half so much our own. I do
want to be away with them in our own quarters. I wonder when Nuttie
can spare us, but I should like to see her through the great crisis
with her father.'

That crisis was to involve more than Annaple in the least expected.
Nuttie found that the momentous confession could not possibly take
place before the interview with Mr. Bulfinch, at which her presence was
needed to help her father with his papers. The principal concern was
to show the full enormity of the bailiff, and decide upon the steps to
be taken, the solicitor being anxious for a prosecution,