when they were
dying--sanctified, good men, I say. Why I have seen a man who has spent
half his fortune in charity, and built alms-houses, leave a thoughtless
son, or a runaway daughter, or a plain-spoken nephew, to struggle with
poverty all his life, refusing to forgive him, and comforting himself
with a text or a pretence. No, no; hate is the only possession that goes
out of the world with a man: and this old witch, Danby, hates the whole
race of Hastings with a goodly strength that will not decay as her body
does. Besides Sir Philip is well-nigh as puritanical as his father--a
sort of cross-breed between an English fanatic and an old Roman cynic.
She abominates the very sound of his voice, and nothing would reconcile
her to him but his taking the mass and abjuring the errors of Calvin.
Ha! ha! ha! However, as you have sent the fellow, it cannot be helped.
Only remember I had nothing to do with it if violence follows. That man
is not to be trusted, and I like to keep on the safe side of the law."

"Ay, doubtless, doubtless," answered the youth, somewhat thoughtfully;
"it is your shield; and better stand behind than before it. However, I
don't doubt Tom Cutter in the least. Besides, I only told him to
interrupt them in their talk, and take care they had no private gossip;
to stick there till he was gone, and all that."

"Sir Philip is not a man to bear such interruption," said the attorney,
gravely; "he is as quiet looking as the deep sea on a summer's day; but
there can come storms, I tell you, John, and then woe to those who have
trusted the quiet look."

"Then, if he gets in a passion, and mischief comes of it," replied the
young man, with a laugh, "the fault is his, you know, Shanks."

"True," answered the attorney, meditating, "and perhaps, by a little
clever twisting and turning, we might make something of it if he did,
were there any other person concerned but this Tom Cutter, and we had a
good serviceable witness or two. But this man is such a rogue that his
word is worth nothing; and to thrash him--though the business of the
beadle--would be no discredit to the magistrate. Besides, he is sure to
give the provocation, and one word of Sir Philip's would be worth a
thousand oaths of Tom Cutter's, in any court in the kingdom."

"As to thrashing him, that few can do," replied the youth; "but only
remember, Shanks, that I gave no orders for violence."

"I was not present," replied the attorney, with a grin; "y