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place： you’d get yourself turned out too； that’s all。 For if you begin
telling tales； I’ll follow。 Bob’s my father’s favourite—you know that
very well。 He’d only think himself well rid of you。”
“Never mind；” said Dunsey； nodding his head sideways as he
looked out of the window。 “It’ud be very pleasant to me to go in
your company—you’re such a handsome brother； and we’ve
always been so fond of quarrelling with one another； I shouldn’t
know what to do without you。 But you’d like better for us both to
stay at home together； I know you would。 So you’ll manage to get
that little sum o’ money； and I’ll bid you good…bye； though I’m
sorry to part。”
Dunstan was moving off； but Godfrey rushed after him and
seized him by the arm； saying； with an oath—“I tell you； I have no
money： I can get no money。”
“Borrow of old Kimble。”
“I tell you； he won’t lend me any more； and I shan’t ask him。”
“Well； then； sell Wildfire。”
“Yes； that’s easy talking。 I must have the money directly。”
“Well； you’ve only got to ride him to the hunt tomorrow。
There’ll be Bryce and Keating there； for sure。 You’ll get more bids
than one。”
“I daresay； and get back home at eight o’clock； splashed up to
the chin。 I’m going to Mrs。 Osgood’s birthday dance。”
“Oho！” said Dunsey； turning his head on one side； and trying to
speak in a small； mincing treble。 “And there’s sweet Miss Nancy
coming； and we shall dance with her； and promise never to be
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naughty again； and be taken into favour； and—” “Hold your
tongue about Miss Nancy； you fool；” said Godfrey； turning red；
“else I’ll throttle you。”
“What for？” said Dunsey； still in an artificial tone； but taking a
whip from the table and beating the butt…end of it on his palm。
“You’ve a very good chance。 I’d advise you to creep up her sleeve
again： it ’ud be saving time； if Molly should happen to take a drop
too much laudanum some day； and make a widower of you。 Miss
Nancy wouldn’t mind being a second； if she didn’t know it。 And
you’ve got a good…natured brother； who’ll keep your secret well；
because you’ll be so very obliging to him。”
“I’ll tell you what it is；” said Godfrey； quivering； and pale again；
“my patience is pretty near at an end。 If you’d a little more
sharpness in you； you might know that you may urge a man a bit
too far； and make one leap as easy as another。 I don’t know but
what it is so now： I may as well tell the Squire everything myself—
I should get you off my back； if I got nothing else。 And； after all；
he’ll know some time。 She’s been threatening to come herself and
tell him。 So； don’t flatter yourself that your secrecy’s worth any
price you choose to ask。 You drain me of money till I have got
nothing to pacify her with； and she’ll do as she threatens some
day。 It’s all one。 I’ll tell my father everything myself； and you may
go to the devil。”
Dunsey perceived that he had overshot his mark； and that there
was a point at which even the hesitating Godfrey might be driven
into decision。 But he said； with an air of unconcern—“As you
please； but I’ll have a draught of ale first。” And ringing the bell； he
threw himself across two chairs； and began to rap the window…seat
with the handle of his whip。
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Godfrey stood； still with his back to the fire； uneasily moving his
fingers among the contents of his side…pockets； and looking at the
floor。 That big muscular frame of his held plenty of animal
courage； but helped him to no decision when the dangers to be
braved were such as could neither be knocked down nor throttled。
His natural irresolution and moral cowardice were exaggerated by
a position in which dreaded consequences seemed to press equally
on all sides； and his irritation had no sooner provoked him to defy
Dunstan and anticipate all possible betrayals； than the miseries he
must bring on himself by such a step seemed more unendurable to
him than the present evil。 The results of confession were not
contingent； they were certain； whereas betrayal was not certain。
From the near vision of that certainty he fell back on suspense and
vacillation with a sense of repose。 The disinherited son of a small
squire； equally disinclined to dig and to beg； was almost as
helpless as an uprooted tree； which； by the favour of earth and sky；
has grown to a handsome bulk on the spot where it first shot
upward。 Perhaps it would have been possible to think of digging
with some cheerfulness if Nancy Lammeter were to be won on
those terms； but since he must irrevocably lose her as well as the
inheritance； and must break every tie but the one that degraded
him and left him without motive for trying to recover his better
self； he could imagine no future for himself on the other side of
confession but that of “‘listing for a soldier”—the most desperate
step； short of suicide； in the eyes of respectable families。 No！ he
would rather trust to casualties than to his own resolve—rather go
on sitting at the feast； and sipping the wine he loved； though with
the sword hanging over him and terror in his heart； than rush
away into the cold darkness where there was no pleasure left。 The
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utmost concession to Dunstan about the horse began to seem easy；
compared with the fulfilment of his own threat。 But his pride
would not let him recommence the conversation otherwise than by
continuing the quarrel。 Dunstan was waiting for this； and took his
ale in shorter draughts than usual。
“It’s just like you；” Godfrey burst out； in a bitter tone； “to talk
about my selling Wildfire in that cool way—the last thing I’ve got
to call my own； and the best bit of horseflesh I ever had in my life。
And if you’d got a spark of pride in you； you’d be ashamed to see
the stables emptied； and everybody sneering about it。 But it’s my
belief you’d sell yourself； if it was only for the pleasure of making
somebody feel he’d got a bad bargain。”
“Ay； ay；” said Dunstan； very placably； “you do me justice； I see！
You know I’m a jewel for ’ticing people into bargains。 For which
reason I advise you to let me sell Wildfire。 I’d ride him to the hunt
tomorrow for you； with pleasure。 I shouldn’t look so handsome as
you in the saddle； but it’s the horse they’ll bid for； and not the
rider。”
“Yes； I daresay—trust my horse to you！”
“As you please；” said Dunstan； rapping the window…seat again
with an air of great unconcern。 “It’s you have got to pay Fowler’s
money； it’s none of my business。 You received the money from
him when you went to Bramcote； and you told the Squire it wasn’t
paid。 I’d nothing to do with that； you chose to be so obliging as to
give it me； that was all。 If you don’t want to pay the money； let it
alone； it’s all one to me。 But I was willing to accommodate you by
undertaking to sell the horse； seeing it’s not convenient to you to
go so far tomorrow。”
Godfrey was silent for some moments。 He would have liked to
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spring on Dunstan； wrench the whip from his hand； and flog him
to within an inch of his life； and no bodily fear could have deterred
him； but he was mastered by another sort of fear； which was fed
by feelings stronger even than his resentment。 When he spoke