ounger, is still here. I put myself in the way of
meeting him as he went to the office this morning. I stopped and
chatted with him for a minute or two, and asked him carelessly how
Mr. Harford was and whether he ever heard from him. He said he
heard occasionally and that he was well. 'By the way, where is he
working now?' I asked, 'I know he went up to a firm in town.' 'Oh,
yes, he is with Barrington and Smiles, of Essex Street. He is
getting on very well there, I believe. He is head of their
conveyancing branch. I wish I could drop into as good a billet,
Doctor. I should be very glad of a change.' So much for that
business. Things are getting on pretty much the same up at the old
place. Brander still comes up to his office for an hour or so every
day. I don't think he cares much for the county gentleman's life. I
fancy Mrs. B. is rather a disappointed woman. The fact is there was
a good deal of feeling in the county as to Brander's connection
with the bank. Almost everyone was let in more or less, you know,
for the depositors have only got eight shillings in the pound so
far, and I don't suppose they will ever get much more. There is an
idea that Brander ought to have found out what was going on, and
indeed that he must have known a good deal about it, and that at
any rate what he did know should have been ample to have rendered
it his duty to warn your father against taking shares so short a
time before the smash. His purchase of Fairclose did not improve
matters, and so far from their taking your father's place in the
county, I may say without being absolutely cut they are much more
out of it than they were before. However, when you come down I will
give you all the local gossip."

It was late in the afternoon when Cuthbert received the letter and he at
once went to Essex Street. Several clerks were writing in the office. A
lad came forward to ask him his business.

"I want to speak for a moment to Mr. Harford."

The lad went up to one of the desks and the clerk came forward.

"I don't know whether you remember me," Cuthbert said, "my name is
Hartington."

"I remember you very well, Mr. Hartington, though you are changed a good
deal."

"I have had a sharp illness, but I am getting over it now. I
particularly wished to speak to you about a matter in connection with my
father's affai