Towneley then went back to Mrs Jupp's to see if he could find Miss
Maitland and arrange matters with her. She was not there, but he traced
her to the house of her father, who lived at Camberwell. The father was
furious and would not hear of any intercession on Towneley's part. He
was a Dissenter, and glad to make the most of any scandal against a
clergyman; Towneley, therefore, was obliged to return unsuccessful.
Next morning, Towneley--who regarded Ernest as a drowning man, who must
be picked out of the water somehow or other if possible, irrespective of
the way in which he got into it--called on me, and we put the matter into
the hands of one of the best known attorneys of the day. I was greatly
pleased with Towneley, and thought it due to him to tell him what I had
told no one else. I mean that Ernest would come into his aunt's money in
a few years' time, and would therefore then be rich.
Towneley was doing all he could before this, but I knew that the
knowledge I had imparted to him would make him feel as though Ernest was
more one of his own class, and had therefore a greater claim upon his
good offices. As for Ernest himself, his gratitude was greater than
could be expressed in words.
Pages:
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463