kinder　gentleman　than　Mr。　Armadale　no　one　could　wish　to　serve。〃
  〃If　you　think　that；〃　pursued　Midwinter；　〃you　won't　object　to　give
  me　some　information　which　will　help　your　master　to　set　himself
  right　with　his　neighbors。　Come　into　the　house。〃
  He　led　the　way　into　the　library；　and；　after　asking　the　necessary
  questions；　took　down　in　writing　a　list　of　the　names　and　addresses
  of　the　most　influential　persons　living　in　the　town　and　its
  neighborhood。　This　done；　he　rang　the　bell　for　the　head　footman；
  having　previously　sent　Richard　with　a　message　to　the　stables
  directing　an　open　carriage　to　be　ready　in　an　hour's　time。
  〃When　the　late　Mr。　Blanchard　went　out　to　make　calls　in　the
  neighborhood；　it　was　your　place　to　go　with　him；　was　it　not？〃　he
  asked；　when　the　upper　servant　appeared。　〃Very　well。　Be　ready　in
  an　hour's　time；　if　you　please；　to　go　out　with　Mr。　Armadale。〃
  Having　given　that　order；　he　left　the　house　again　on　his　way　back
  to　Allan；　with　the　visiting　list　in　his　hand。　He　smiled　a　little
  sadly　as　he　descended　the　steps。　〃Who　would　have　imagined；〃　he
  thought；　〃that　my　foot…boy's　experience　of　the　ways　of
  gentlefolks　would　be　worth　looking　back　at　one　day　for　Allan's
  sake？〃
  The　object　of　the　popular　odium　lay　innocently　slumbering　on　the
  grass；　with　his　garden　hat　over　his　nose；　his　waistcoat
  unbuttoned；　and　his　trousers　wrinkled　half　way　up　his
  outstretched　legs。　Midwinter　roused　him　without　hesitation；　and
  remorselessly　repeated　the　servant's　news。
  Allan　accepted　the　disclosure　thus　forced　on　him　without　the
  slightest　disturbance　of　temper。　〃Oh；　hang　'em！〃　was　all　he　said。
  〃Let's　have　another　cigar。〃　Midwinter　took　the　cigar　out　of　his
  hand；　and；　insisting　on　his　treating　the　matter　seriously；　told
  him　in　plain　words　that　he　must　set　himself　right　with　his
  offended　neighbors　by　calling　on　them　personally　to　make　his
  apologies。　Allan　sat　up　on　the　grass　in　astonishment；　his　eyes
  opened　wide　in　incredulous　dismay。　Did　Midwinter　positively
  meditate　forcing　him　into　a　〃chimney…pot　hat；〃　a　nicely　brushed
  frock…coat；　and　a　clean　pair　of　gloves？　Was　it　actually　in
  contemplation　to　shut　him　up　in　a　carriage；　with　his　footman　on
  the　box　and　his　card…case　in　his　hand；　and　send　him　round　from
  house　to　house；　to　tell　a　pack　of　fools　that　he　begged　their
  pardon　for　not　letting　them　make　a　public　show　of　him？　If
  anything　so　outrageously　absurd　as　this　was　really　to　be　done；　it
  could　not　be　done　that　day；　at　any　rate。　He　had　promised　to　go
  back　to　the　charming　Milroy　at　the　cottage　and　to　take　Midwinter
  with　him。　What　earthly　need　had　he　of　the　good　opinion　of　the
  resident　gentry？　The　only　friends　he　wanted　were　the　friends　he
  had　got　already。　Let　the　whole　neighborhood　turn　its　back　on　him
  if　it　liked；　back　or　face；　the　Squire　of　Thorpe　Ambrose　didn't
  care　two　straws　about　it。
  After　allowing　him　to　run　on　in　this　way　until　his　whole　stock　of
  objections　was　exhausted；　Midwinter　wisely　tried　his　personal
  influence　next。　He　took　Allan　affectionately　by　the　hand。　〃I　am
  going　to　ask　a　great　favor；〃　he　said。　〃If　you　won't　call　on　these
  people　for　your　own　sake；　will　you　call　on　them　to　please　_me？_〃
  Allan　delivered　himself　of　a　groan　of　despair；　stared　in　mute
  surprise　at　the　anxious　face　of　his　friend；　and　good…humoredly
  gave　way。　As　Midwinter　took　his　arm；　and　led　him　back　to　the
  house；　he　looked　round　with　rueful　eyes　at　the　cattle　hard　by；
  placidly　whisking　their　tails　in　the　pleasant　shade。　〃Don't
  mention　it　in　the　neighborhood；〃　he　said；　〃I　should　like　to
  change　places　with　one　of　my　own　cows。〃
  Midwinter　left　him　to　dress；　engaging　to　return　when　the　carriage
  was　at　the　door。　Allan's　toilet　did　not　promise　to　be　a　speedy
  one。　He　began　it　by　reading　his　own　visiting　cards；　and　he
  advanced　it　a　second　stage　by　looking　into　his　wardrobe；　and
  devoting　the　resident　gentry　to　the　infernal　regions。　Before　he
  could　discover　any　third　means　of　delaying　his　own　proceedings；
  the　necessary　pretext　was　unexpectedly　supplied　by　Richard's
  appearance　with　a　note　in　his　hand。　The　messenger　had　just　called
  with　Mr。　Darch's　answer。　Allan　briskly　shut　up　the　wardrobe；　and
  gave　his　whole　attention　to　the　lawyer's　letter。　The　lawyer's
  letter　rewarded　him　by　the　following　lines：
  〃SIRI　beg　to　acknowledge　the　receipt　of　your　favor　of　to…day's
  date；　honoring　me　with　two　proposals；　namely；　ONE　inviting　me　to
  act　as　your　legal　adviser；　and　ONE　inviting　me　to　pay　you　a　visit
  at　your　house。　In　reference　to　the　first　proposal；　I　beg
  permission　to　decline　it　with　thanks。　With　regard　to　the　second
  proposal；　I　have　to　inform　you　that　circumstances　have　come　to　my
  knowledge　relating　to　the　letting　of　the　cottage　at　Thorpe
  Ambrose　which　render　it　impossible　for　me　（in　justice　to　myself）
  to　accept　your　invitation。　I　have　ascertained；　sir；　that　my　offer
  reached　you　at　the　same　time　as　Major　Milroy's；　and　that；　with
  both　proposals　thus　before　you；　you　gave　the　preference　to　a
  total　stranger；　who　addressed　you　through　a　house　agent；　over　a
  man　who　had　faithfully　served　your　relatives　for　two　generations；
  and　who　had　been　the　first　person　to　inform　you　of　the　most
  important　event　in　your　life。　After　this　specimen　of　your
  estimate　of　what　is　due　to　the　claims　of　common　courtesy　and
  common　justice；　I　cannot　flatter　myself　that　I　possess　any　of　the
  qualities　which　would　fit　me　to　take　my　place　on　the　list　of　your
  friends。
  〃I　remain；　sir；　your　obedient　servant；
  〃JAMES　DARCH。〃
  〃Stop　the　messenger！〃　cried　Allan；　leaping　to　his　feet；　his　ruddy
  face　aflame　with　indignation。　〃Give　me　pen；　ink；　and　paper！　By
  the　Lord　Harry；　they're　a　nice　set　of　people　in　these　parts；　the
  whole　neighborhood　is　in　a　conspiracy　to　bully　me！〃　He　snatched
  up　the　pen　in　a　fine　frenzy　of　epistolary　inspiration。　〃SirI
  despise　you　and　your　letter。〃　At　that　point　the　pen　made　a
  blot；　and　the　writer　was　seized　　with　a　momentary　hesitation。　〃Too
  strong；〃　h　e　thought；　〃I'll　give　it　to　the　lawyer　in　his　own　cool
  and　cutting　style。〃　He　began　again　on　a　clean　sheet　of　paper。
  〃SirYou　remind　me　of　an　Irish　bull。　I　mean　that　story　in　'Joe
  Miller'　where　Pat　remarked；　in　the　hearing　of　a　wag　hard　by；　that
  'the　reciprocity　was　all　on　one　side。'　_Your_　reciprocity　is　all
  on　one　side。　You　take　the　privilege　of　refusing　to　be　my　lawyer；
  and　then　you　complain　of　my　taking　the　privilege　of　refusing　to
  be　your　landlord。〃　He　paused　fondly　over　those　last　words。
  〃Neat！〃　he　thought。　〃Argument　and　hard　hitting　both　in　one。　I
  wonder　where　my　knack　of　writing　comes　from？〃　He　went　on；　and
  finished　the　letter　in　two　more　sentences。　〃As　for　your　casting
  my　invitation　back　in　my　teeth；　I　beg　to　inform　you　my　teeth　are
  none　the　worse　for　it。　I　am　equally　glad　to　have　nothing　to　say
  to　you；　either　in　the　capacity　of　a　friend　or　a　tenant。ALLAN
  ARMADALE。〃　He　nodded　exultantly　at　his　own　composition；　as　he
  addressed　it　and　sent　it　down　to　the　messenger。　〃Darch's　hide
  must　be　a　thick　one；〃　he　said；　〃if　he　doesn't　feel　_that！_〃
  The　sound　of　the　wheels　outside　suddenly　recalled　him　to　the
  business　of　the　day。　There　was　the　carriage　waiting　to　take　him
  on　his　round　of　visits；　and　there　was　Midwinter　at　his　post；
  pacing　to　and　fro　on　the　drive。
  〃Read　that；〃　cried　Allan；　throwing　out　the　lawyer's　letter；　〃I've
  written　him　back　a　smasher。〃
  He　bustled　away　to　the　wardrobe　to　get　his　coat。　There　was　a
  wonderful　change　in　him；　he　felt　little　or　no　reluctance　to　pay
  the　visits　now。　The　pleasurable　excitement　of　answering　Mr。　Darth
  had　put　him　in　a　fine　aggressive　frame　of　mind　for　asserting
  himself　in　the　neighborhood。　〃Whatever　else　they　may　say　of　me；
  they　shan't　say　I　was　afraid　to　face　them。〃　Heated　red…hot　with
  that　idea；　he　seized　his　hat　and　gloves；　and　hurrying　out　of　the
  room；　met　Midwinter　in　the　corridor　with　the　lawyer's　letter　in
  his　hand。
  〃Keep　up　your　spirits！〃　cried　Allan；　seeing　the　anxiety　in　his
  friend's　face；　and　misinterpreting　the　motive　of　it　immediately。
  〃If　Darch　can't　be　counted　on　to　send　us　a　helping　hand　into　the
  steward's　office；　Pedgift　can。〃
  〃My　dear　Allan；　I　was　not　thinking　of　that；　I　was　thinking　of　Mr。
  Darch's　letter。　I　don't　defend　this　sour…tempered　man；　but　I　am
  afraid　we　must　admit　he　has　some　cause　for　complaint。　Pray　don't
  give　him　another　chance　of　putting　you　in　the　wrong。　Where　is
  your　answer　to　his　letter？〃
  〃Gone！〃　replied　Allan。　〃I　always　strike　while　the　iron's　hota
  word　and　a　blow；　and　the　blow　first；　that's　my　way。　Don't；
  there's　a　good　fellow；　don't　fidget　about　the　steward's　books　and
  the　rent…day。　Here！　here's　a　bunch　of　keys　they　gave　me　last
  night：　one　of　them　opens　the　room　where　the　steward's　books　are；
  go　in　and　read　them　till　I　come　back。　I　give　you　my　sacred　word
  of　honor　I'll　settle　it　all　with　Pedgift　before　you　see　me
  again。〃
  〃One　moment；〃　interposed　Midwinter；　stopping　him　resolutely　on
  his　way　out　to　the　carriage。　〃I　say　nothing　against　Mr。　Pedgift's
  fitness　to　possess　your　confidence；　for　I　know　nothing　to　justify
  me　in　distrusting　him。　But　he　has　not　introduced　himself　to　your
  notice　in　a　very　delicate　way；　and　he　has　not　acknowledged　（what
  is　quite　clear　to　my　mind）　that　he　knew　of　Mr。　Darch's　unfriendly
  feeling　toward　you