ecedents crowded upon
him much quicker than he could remember them when seated in that
arm-chair with the bill stamp before him, and the pen and ink ready
to his hand. He remembered what Lord Lufton had told him--how he had
complained of having been left in the lurch; he thought of all the
stories current through the entire country as to the impossibility
of getting money from Chaldicotes; he brought to mind the known
character of the man, and then he knew that he must prepare himself
to make good a portion at least of that heavy payment. Why had he
come to this horrid place? Had he not everything at home at Framley
which the heart of man could desire? No; the heart of man can desire
deaneries--the heart, that is, of the man vicar; and the heart of the
man dean can desire bishoprics; and before the eyes of the man bishop
does there not loom the transcendental glory of Lambeth? He had owned
to himself that he was ambitious; but he had to own to himself now
also that he had hitherto taken but a sorry path towards the object
of his ambition. On the next morning at breakfast-time, before his
horse and gig arrived for him, no one was so bright as his friend
Sowerby. "So you are off, are you?" said he.

"Yes, I shall go this morning."

"Say everything that's kind from me to Lufton. I may possibly see him
out hunting; otherwise we shan't meet till the spring. As to my going
to Framley, that's out of the question. Her ladyship would look for
my tail, and swear that she smelt brimstone. By-bye, old fellow!"

The German student when he first made his bargain with the devil felt
an indescribable attraction to his new friend; and such was the case
now with Robarts. He shook Sowerby's hand very warmly, said that
he hoped he should meet him soon somewhere, and professed himself
specially anxious to hear how that affair with the lady came off.
As he had made his bargain--as he had undertaken to pay nearly half
a year's income for his dear friend--ought he not to have as much
value as possible for his money? If the dear friendship of this flash
member of Parliament did not represent that value, what else did do
so? But then he felt, or fancied that he felt, that Mr. Sowerby did
not care for him so much this morning as he had done on the previous
evening. "By-bye," said Mr. Sowerby, but he spoke no word as to
such future meetings, nor did he even promise to write. Mr. Sowerby
probably had many things on his mind; and it might be that