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That's a woman's idea of gratitude. Attley seemed rather hurt, and Mrs. Godfrey laughed. 'That proves you were right about Miss Sichliffe, Ella, I said. 'She had no designs on anybody. 'I'm always right in these matters. But didn't she even offer you a goldfish?
Being considerably humiliated thereby, and in disgust with West Lynne, he retired accordingly, and a fresh writ was issued. West Lynne then returned the Hon. Mr. Attley, a county nobleman's son; but he died in the very midst of his first session, and another writ had to be issued. Of course the consideration now was, who should be the next lucky man fixed upon.
Weeks later, Attley came over to see me, and before his car stopped Malachi let me know that Bettina was sitting beside the chauffeur. He greeted her by the scruff of the neck as she hopped down; and I greeted Mrs. Godfrey, Attley, and a big basket. 'You've got to help me, said Attley tiredly.
'But what did the dromedary say when you brought her beast back? Attley demanded. 'The usual polite things, I replied. 'I'm posing as the nice doggy friend nowadays. 'I don't envy you. She's never darkened my doors, thank goodness, since I left Harvey at your place. I suppose she'll run about the county now swearing you cured him.
I was not at Mittleham when she came over to announce her engagement, but I heard of it when Mrs. Godfrey and Attley came, forty miles an hour, over to me, and Mrs. Godfrey called me names of the worst for suppression of information. 'As long as it wasn't me, I don't care, said Attley. 'I believe you knew it all along, Mrs. Godfrey repeated.
"Carlyle!" uttered Sir Francis, startled. "Oh, by George, though! I can't stand against him." "Well, there's the alternative. If you can't, Thornton will." "I should run no chance. West Lynne would not elect me in preference to him. I'm not sure, indeed, that West Lynne would have me in any case." "Nonsense! You know our interest there. Government put in Attley, and it can put you in.
Godfrey's younger daughter, pounced on my rejection with squeals of delight, and Attley turned to a dark, sallow-skinned, slack-mouthed girl, who had come over for tennis, and invited her to pick. She put on a pince-nez that made her look like a camel, knelt clumsily, for she was long from the hip to the knee, breathed hard, and considered the last couple.
'Three and four times a day, said Attley, with an awful countenance. 'I'm not a vain man, but look here, Ella, I'm not sensitive, I hope, but if you persist in making a joke of it 'Oh, be quiet! she almost shrieked. 'D'you imagine for one instant that your friends would ever let Mittleham pass out of their hands?
We took the basket into the garden, and there staggered out the angular shadow of a sandy-pied, broken-haired terrier, with one imbecile and one delirious ear, and two most hideous squints. Bettina and Malachi, already at grips on the lawn, saw him, let go, and fled in opposite directions. 'Why have you brought that fetid hound here? I demanded. 'Harvey? For you to take care of, said Attley.
I quite agree it is unseemly for a grown girl to come to Mittleham at all hours of the day and night 'I told you she went home o' nights, Attley growled. 'Specially if she goes home o' nights. Oh, but think of the life she must have led, Will! 'I'm not interfering with it; only she must leave me alone. 'She may want to patch you up and insure you, I suggested.