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Dunstan was moving off; but Godfrey rushed after him and seized him by the arm, saying with an oath, I tell you I have no money; I can get no money. Borrow of old Kimble. I tell you he wont lend me any more, and I shant ask him. Well, then, sell Wildfire. Yes, thats easy talking. I must have the money directly. Well, youve only got to ride him to the hunt to-morrow. Therell be Bryce and Keating there, for sure. Youll get more bids than one. I dare say, and get back home at eight oclock, splashed up to the chin. Im going to Mrs. Osgoods birthday dance. Oho! said Dunsey, turning his head on one side, and trying to speak in a small mincing treble. And theres sweet Miss Nancy coming; and we shall dance with her, and promise never to be naughty again, and be taken into favour, and Hold your tongue about Miss Nancy, you fool, said Godfrey, turning red, else Ill throttle you. What for? said Dunsey, still in an artificial tone, but taking a whip from the table and beating the butt end of it on his palm. Youve a very good chance. Id advise you to creep up her sleeve again; it ud be saving time, if Molly should happen to take a drop too much laudanum some day and make a widower of you. Miss Nancy wouldnt mind being a second, if she didnt know it. And youve got a good-natured brother, wholl keep your secret well, because youll be so very obliging to him. Ill tell you what it is, said Godfrey, quivering and pale again: my patience is pretty near at an end. If youd a little more sharpness in you, you might know that you may urge a man a bit too far, and make one leap as easy as another. I dont know but what it is so now. I may as well tell the Squire everything myself. I should get you off my back, if I got nothing else. And after all hell know some time. Shes been threatening to come herself and tell him. So dont flatter yourself that your secrecys worth any price you choose to ask. You drain me of money till I have got nothing to pacify her with, and shell do as she threatens some day. Its all one. Ill tell my father everything myself, and you may go to the devil. Dunsey perceived that he had overshot his mark, and that there was a point at which even the hesitating Godfrey might be driven into decision. But he said with an air of unconcern, As you please; but Ill have a draught of ale first. And ringing the bell, he threw himself across two chairs, and began to rap the window-seat with the handle of his whip. Godfrey stood, still with his back to the fire, uneasily moving his fingers among the contents of his side pockets and looking at the floor. That big muscular frame of his held plenty of animal courage, but helped him to no decision when the dangers to be braved were such as could neither be knocked down nor throttled. His natural irresolution and moral cowardice were exaggerated by a position in which dreaded consequences seemed to press equally on all sides, and his irritation had no sooner provoked him to defy Dunstan and anticipate all possible betrayals, than the miseries he must bring on himself by such a step seemed more unendurable to him than the present evil. The results of confession were not contingent, they were certain; whereas betrayal was not certain. From the near vision of that certainty he fell back on suspense and vacillation with a sense of repose. The disinherited son of a small squire, equally disinclined to dig and to beg, was almost as helpless as an uprooted tree, which, by the favour of earth and sky, has grown to a handsome bulk on the spot where it first shot upward. Perhaps it would have been possible |
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