'If it affects our business, Miss Lake, I do request that you address yourself to me; if not, may I beg, Miss Lake, that you will defer it for a moment.'
'William Wylder, lay down that pen; as you love your little boy, lay it down, and hear me,' continued Miss Lake.
The vicar looked at her with his eyes wide open, puzzled, like a man who is not quite sure whether he may not be doing something wrong.
'I—really, Miss Lake—pardon me, but this is very irregular, and, in fact, unprecedented!' said Jos. Larkin. 'I think—I suppose, you can hardly be aware, Ma'am, that I am here as the Rev. Mr. Wylder's confidential solicitor, acting solely for him, in a matter of a strictly private nature.'
The attorney stood erect, a little flushed, with that peculiar contraction, mean and dangerous, in his eyes.
'Of course, Mr. Wylder, if you, Sir, desire me to leave, I shall instantaneously do so; and, indeed, unless you proceed to sign, I had better go, as my time is generally, I may say, a little pressed upon, and I have, in fact, some business elsewhere to attend to.'
'What is this law-paper?' demanded Rachel, laying the tips of her slender fingers upon it.
'Am I to conclude that you withdraw from your engagement?' asked Mr. Larkin. 'I had better, then, communicate with Burlington and Smith by this post; as also with the sheriff, who has been very kind.'
'Oh, no!—oh, no, Mr. Larkin!—pray, I'm quite ready to sign.'
'Now, William Wylder, you sha'n't sign until you tell me whether this is a sale of your reversion.'