can understand that a man may have difficulties with his family."

"Because of my being a breeches-maker?" said Neefit contemptuously.

"I won't say that; but there may be difficulties."

"Twenty thousand pounds does away with a deal of them things."

"Just so;--but as I was saying, you can understand that there may be
family difficulties. I only say that because I ought perhaps to have
given you an answer sooner. I won't go down with you this evening."

"You won't?"

"Not to-night;--but I'll be with you on Saturday evening, if that
will suit you."

"Come and have a bit of dinner again on Sunday," said Neefit. Ralph
accepted the invitation, shook hands with Neefit, and escaped from
the shop.

When he thought of it all as he went to his rooms, he told himself
that he had now as good as engaged himself to Polly;--as good or as
bad. Of course, after what had passed, he could not go to the house
again without asking her to be his wife. Were he to do so Neefit
would be justified in insulting him. And yet when he undertook to
make this fourth visit to the cottage, he had done so with the
intention of allowing himself a little more time for judgment. He saw
plainly enough that he was going to allow himself to drift into this
marriage without any real decision of his own. He prided himself on
being strong, and how could any man be more despicably weak than
this? It was, indeed, true that in all the arguments he had used with
Sir Thomas he had defended the Neefit marriage as though it was the
best course he could adopt;--and even Sir Thomas had not ultimately
ventured to oppose it. Would it not be as well for him to consider
that he had absolutely made up his mind to marry Polly?

On the Friday he called at Mr. Moggs's house; Mr. Moggs senior was
there, and Mr. Moggs junior, and also a shopman. "I was sorry," said
he, "that when your son called, I had friends with me, and could
hardly explain circumstances."

"It didn't signify at all," said Moggs junior.

"But it does signify, Mr. Newton," said Moggs senior, who on this
morning was not in a good humour with his ledger. "Two hundred and
seventeen pounds, three shillings and four-pence is a good deal of
money for boots, Mr. Newton, You must allow that."

"Indeed it is, Mr. Moggs."

"There hasn't been what you may call a settlement for years.
Twenty-five pounds paid in the last two years!" and Mr. Moggs as he
spoke had his finger on the fatal page. "That won't do