"No, I won't," replied Walter.
Walter did write to Mr. Rubric; but it was many weeks before he had a reply, for the rector had just started for his annual holiday, on a tour through the Continent, whither the letter, after long delay, followed him, but did not reach him till two months afterward; when he was quietly settled down again to his home duties.
[CHAPTER VIII.]
WHO'S WHO?
IT was not true, had John Tincroft even said it as well as thought it, that all his Oxford legal adviser wanted with him was to extract another consultation fee from his scantily filled purse. A new light had broken in upon the lawyer by some means or other, which he honestly thought might turn to his client's advantage. But to accomplish this end, a personal conference seemed needful. There might be a little touch of self-importance in this idea, supposing that a written communication would have answered the purpose. But then, no doubt, Mr. Roundhand knew his own business best, and how best to conduct it. But in order to the proper development of our history, it is again necessary to turn over a few leaves of the past.
Not many miles from the pleasant town of Trotbury, and on the high road, or one of the byroads—it does not matter which, for all high roads are rapidly becoming byroads, unless they are railroads—but on one of these roads to a celebrated and ancient seaport not so many miles away, and on the outskirts of a rather large village, stands, or stood in the times of our story, an old-fashioned house of considerable dimensions, and at that time very much out of repair. At a former period it had been the mansion-house of a prosperous family, which, however, had all but died out, leaving only a name to the partially dilapidated building. For some years, Tincroft House, as it was called, and to which was attached some landed property, in those days of prosperity far more extensive, had been uninhabited and in Chancery.
The last inhabitant and owner of the house was a crusty old bachelor, who died intestate. On inquisition being made by the proper authorities for the heir of the estate, it was found that there were two, and only two, distant collateral branches of the once great and widespread family. These were the Tincrofts of Yorkshire and the Tincrofts of Sussex.
The representative of the first of these was a manufacturer of woollens, a reputedly rich man, but with a numerous family, to whom the windfall of a diminished estate would be a welcome enough addition to his possessions; a nice little thing for a younger son, at all events.