him for assistance. I borrowed it only for a fortnight; and, in order that I might repay it, I was obliged to ask you for the price of the horse. Mark, it was on your behalf that I did all this—indeed it was."
"And now I am to repay you for your kindness by the loss of all that I have in the world."
"If you will put the affairs into the hands of Mr. Forrest, nothing need be touched—not a hair of a horse's back; no, not though you should be obliged to pay the whole amount yourself gradually out of your income. You must execute a series of bills falling due quarterly, and then—"
"I will execute no bill, I will put my name to no paper in the matter; as to that my mind is fully made up. They may come and do their worst."
Mr. Sowerby persevered for a long time, but he was quite unable to move the parson from his position. He would do nothing toward making what Mr. Sowerby called an arrangement, but persisted that he would remain at home at Framley, and that any one who had a claim upon him might take legal steps.
"I shall do nothing myself," he said; "but, if proceedings against me be taken, I shall prove that I have never had a shilling of the money." And in this resolution he quitted the Dragon of Wantley.
Mr. Sowerby at one time said a word as to the expediency of borrowing that sum of money from John Robarts; but as to this Mark would say nothing. Mr. Sowerby was not the friend with whom he now intended to hold consultation on such matters. "I am not at present prepared," he said, "to declare what I may do; I must first see what steps others take;" and then he took his hat and went off; and, mounting his horse in the yard of the Dragon of Wantley—that horse which he had now so many reasons to dislike, he slowly rode back home.
Many thoughts passed through his mind during that ride, but only one resolution obtained for itself a fixture there. He must now tell his wife every thing. He would not be so cruel as to let it remain untold until a bailiff were at the door, ready to walk him off to the county jail, or until the bed on which they slept was to be sold from under them. Yes, he would tell every thing—immediately, before his resolution could again have faded away. He got off
