thing at all, and that he
wanted his money at once. George Hotspur sent the man his money, not
without many curses on the illiberality of such a curmudgeon. Was it
not cruel that a fellow would not give him so trifling an assistance
when he wanted it so badly? All the world seemed to conspire to hurt
him just at this most critical moment of his life! In many of his
hardest emergencies for ready money he had gone to Mrs. Morton. But
even he felt that just at present he could not ask her for more.

Nevertheless, a certain amount of cash was made to be forthcoming
before he took his departure for Norfolk. In the course of the
preceding spring he had met a young gentleman in Mr. Hart's small
front parlour, who was there upon ordinary business. He was a young
gentleman with good prospects, and with some command of ready money;
but he liked to live, and would sometimes want Mr. Hart's assistance.
His name was Walker, and though he was not exactly one of that class
in which it delighted Captain Hotspur to move, nevertheless he was
not altogether disdained by that well-born and well-bred gentleman.
On the third of October, the day before he left London to join his
distinguished friends in Norfolk, George Hotspur changed a cheque
for nearly three hundred pounds at Mr. Walker's banker's. Poor Mr.
Walker! But Cousin George went down to Norfolk altogether in high
feather. If there were play, he would play. He would bet about
pulling straws if he could find an adversary to bet with him. He
could chink sovereigns about at his ease, at any rate, during the
week. Cousin George liked to chink sovereigns about at his ease. And
this point of greatness must be conceded to him,--that, however black
might loom the clouds of the coming sky, he could enjoy the sunshine
of the hour.

In the meantime Mr. Boltby was at work, and before Cousin George had
shot his last pheasant in such very good company, Sir Harry was up
in town assisting Mr. Boltby. How things had gone at Humblethwaite
between Sir Harry and his daughter must not be told on this page;
but the reader may understand that nothing had as yet occurred to
lessen Sir Harry's objection to the match. There had been some
correspondence between Sir Harry and Mr. Boltby, and Sir Harry had
come up to town. When the reader learns that on the very day on
which Cousin George and his servant were returning to London by the
express train from Norfolk, smoking many cigars and drinking many
glasses