it. Therefore his walk to Bragg's End on that afternoon was a settled
thing with him. They were to dine at the brewery at three, and he
would go almost immediately after dinner. But what would he say to
her when he got there, and what would he say to her mother? He had
not even yet made up his mind that he would positively ask her on
that day to be his wife, and yet he felt that if he found her at home
he would undoubtedly do so. "I'll arrange it all," said he, "as I'm
walking over." Then he threw away the end of his cigar, and wandered
about for the next half-hour among the vats and tubs and furnaces.

Mr. Tappitt took himself into the house as soon as he found himself
able to do so without being seen by young Rowan. He took himself into
the house in order that he might consult with his wife as to this
unexpected revelation that had been made to him; or rather that he
might have an opportunity of saying to some one all the hard things
which were now crowding themselves upon his mind with reference to
this outrageous young man. Had anything ever been known, or heard, or
told, equal in enormity to this wickedness! He was to be called upon
to find capital for the establishment of a rival in his own town, or
else he was to bind himself in a partnership with a youth who knew
nothing of his business, but was nevertheless resolved to constitute
himself the chief manager of it! He who had been so true to Bungall
in his young days was now to be sacrificed in his old age to
Bungall's audacious representative! In the first glow of his anger
he declared to his wife that he would pay no money and admit of no
partnership. If Rowan did not choose to take his income as old Mrs.
Bungall had taken hers he might seek what redress the law would give
him. It was in vain that Mrs. Tappitt suggested that they would
all be ruined. "Then we will be ruined," said Tappitt, hot with
indignation; "but all Baslehurst,--all Devonshire shall know why."
Pernicious young man! He could not explain,--he could not even quite
understand in what the atrocity of Rowan's proposed scheme consisted,
but he was possessed by a full conviction that it was atrocious. He
had admitted this man into his house; he was even now entertaining as
his guests the man's mother and sister; he had allowed him to have
the run of the brewery, so that he had seen both the nakedness and
the fat of the land; and this was to be his reward! "If I were to
tell it at the reading-room,"