He would give sage advice to Mary Masters as
to the wisdom of establishing herself,--having not an hour since
made up his mind that he would never see her again! He would
congratulate the attorney and Mrs. Masters. He would conquer the
absurd feeling which at present was making him wretched. He would
cultivate some sort of acquaintance with the man, and make the
happy pair a wedding present. But, yet, what "a beast" the man was,
with that billicock hat on one side of his head, and those tight
leather gaiters.
As he passed through the town towards his own house, he saw Mr.
Runciman standing in front of the hotel. His road took him up Hobbs
gate, by the corner of the Bush; but Runciman came a little out of
the way to meet him. "You have heard the news?" said the innkeeper.
"I have heard one piece of news."
"What's that, sir?"
"Come,--you tell me yours first"
"The young squire is coming down to Bragton next week."
"That's my news too. It is not likely that there should be two
matters of interest in Dillsborough on the same day."
"I don't know why Dillsborough should be worse off than any other
place, Mr. Morton; but at any rate the squire's coming."
"So Mrs. Hopkins told me. Has he written to you?"
"His coachman or his groom has; or perhaps he keeps what they call
an ekkery. He's much too big a swell to write to the likes of me.
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