reat house all to himself, George was brought
in contact with no one to whom, in unguarded moments, he could even
have let out a hint of his new acquaintance, except the clergyman of
the parish, a worthy man, who lived in strict retirement upon a scanty
stipend. For the Marquess was the lay impropriator; the living was
therefore but a very poor vicarage, below the acceptance of a Vipont or
a Vipont's tutor, sure to go to a worthy man forced to live in strict
retirement. George saw too little of this clergyman, either to let
out secrets or pick up information. From him, however, George did
incidentally learn that Waife had some months previously visited the
village, and proposed to the bailiff to take the cottage and osier land,
which he now rented; that he represented himself as having known an old
basketmaker who had dwelt there many years ago, and as having learned
the basket craft of that long deceased operative. As he offered a higher
rent than the bailiff could elsewhere obtain, and as the bailiff was
desirous to get credit with Mr. Carr Vipont for improving the property,
by reviving thereon an art which had fallen into desuetude, the bargain
was struck, provided the candidate, being a stranger to the place, could
furnish the bailiff with any satisfactory reference. Waife had gone
away, saying he should shortly return with the requisite testimonial. In
fact, poor man, as we know, he was then counting on a good word from
Mr. Hartopp. He had not, however, returned for some months. The
cottage, having been meanwhile wanted for the temporary occupation of an
under-gamekeeper, while his own was under repair, fortunately remained
unlet. Waife, on returning, accompanied by his little girl, had referred
the bailiff to a respectable house-agent and collector of street rents
in Bloomsbury, who wrote word that a lady, then abroad, had authorized
him, as the agent employed in the management of a house property from
which much of her income was derived, not only to state that Waife was a
very intelligent man, likely to do well whatever he undertook, but also
to guarantee, if required, the punctual payment of the rent for any
holding of which he became the occupier. On this the agreement was
concluded, the basketmaker installed. In the immediate neighbourhood
there was no custom for basket-work, but Waife's performances were so
neat, and some so elegant and fanciful, that he had no difficulty
in contracting with a large tradesman