a line. Mrs. Mason remained for a minute or two longer, and then she also went. ‘The carriage has been ordered at three, Mr. M.,’ she said. ‘Shall we have the pleasure of your company?‘ ’No,’ growled the husband. And then the lady went, sweeping a low curtsy to Mr. Dockwrath as she passed out of the room.
There was again a silence between the host and his guest for some two or three minutes, during which Mr. Mason was endeavouring to get the lunch out of his head, and to redirect his whole mind to Lady Mason and his hopes of vengeance. There is nothing perhaps so generally consoling to a man as a well-established grievance; a feeling of having been injured, on which his mind can brood from hour to hour, allowing him to plead his own cause in his own court, within his own heart,—and always to plead it successfully. At last Mr. Mason succeeded, and he could think of his enemy’s fraud and forget his wife’s meanness, ‘I suppose I may as well order my gig now,’ said Mr. Dockwrath, as soon as his host had arrived at this happy frame of mind.
’Your gig? ah, well. Yes. I do not know that I need detain you any longer. I can assure you that I am much obliged to you, Mr. Dockwrath, and I shall hope to see you in London very shortly.’
’You are determined to go to Round and Crook, I suppose?’
’Oh, certainly.’
’You are wrong, sir. They'll throw you over again as sure as your name is Mason,’
‘Mr. Dockwrath, you must if you please allow me to judge of that myself.’
’Oh, of course, sir, of course. But I’m sure that a gentleman like you, Mr. Mason, will understand’
’I shall understand that I cannot expect your services, Mr. Dockwrath,—your valuable time and services,—without remunerating you for them. That shall be fully explained to Messrs. Round and Crook.’
’Very well, sir; very well. As long as I am paid for what I do, I am content. A professional gentleman of course expects that. How is he to get along else; particular with sixteen children?’ And then Mr. Dockwrath got into the gig, and was driven back to the Bull at Leeds.
