vance. His heart
was laden with hatred of his enemy. His very soul was heavy with
that sorrow. Honyman, whom he had not yet dared to desert, had again
recommended submission to him, submission to one of the three terms
proposed. Let him take the thousand a year and go out from the
brewery. That was Honyman's first advice. If not that, then let him
admit his enemy to a full partnership. If that were too distasteful
to be possible, then let him raise ten thousand pounds on a mortgage
on the whole property, and buy Rowan out. Honyman thought that the
money might be raised if Tappitt were willing to throw into the
lump the moderate savings of his past life. But in answer to either
proposal Tappitt only raved. Had Mr. Hart known all about this, he
might doubtless have secured Tappitt's vote.

Butler Cornbury refused to call at the brewery. "The man's a
liberal," he said to his wife, "and what's the use? Besides he's just
the man I can't stand. We've always hated each other."

Whereupon Mrs. B. Cornbury determined to call on Mrs. Tappitt, and
to see Tappitt himself if it were possible. She had heard something
of the Rowan troubles, but not all. She had heard, too, of Rowan's
liking for Rachel Ray, having also seen something of it, as we know.
But, unfortunately for her husband's parliamentary interests, she had
not learned that the two things were connected together. And, very
unfortunately also for the same interests, she had taken it into her
head that Rachel should be married to young Rowan. She had conceived
a liking for Rachel; and being by nature busy, fond of employment,
and apt at managing other people's affairs, she had put her finger
on that match as one which she would task herself to further. This,
I say, was unfortunate as regards her husband's present views. Her
work, now in hand, was to secure Tappitt's vote; and to have carried
her point in that quarter, her surest method would have been to have
entered the brewery open-mouthed against Luke Rowan and Rachel Ray.

But the conversation, almost at once, led to a word in praise of
Rachel, and to following words in praise of Luke. Martha only was in
the room with her mother. Mrs. Cornbury did not at once begin about
the vote, but made, as was natural, certain complimentary speeches
about the ball. Really she didn't remember when she had seen anything
better done; and the young ladies looked so nice. She had indeed gone
away early; but she had done so by no means