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hours a day。 They might pay themselves in calls； with interest； in
twelve months。 I think I shall propose it to them。 Ah； my centaur；
are you there？’
‘Here I am；’ replied Hugh； striding in； followed by a dog； as
rough and sullen as himself； ‘and trouble enough I’ve had to get
here。 What do you ask me to come for； and keep me out when I do
come？’
‘My good fellow；’ returned the other； raising his head a little
from the cushion and carelessly surveying him from top to toe； ‘I
am delighted to see you； and to have； in your being here； the very
best proof that you are not kept out。 How are you？’
‘I’m well enough；’ said Hugh impatiently。
‘You look a perfect marvel of health。 Sit down。’
‘I’d rather stand；’ said Hugh。
‘Please yourself my good fellow；’ returned Mr Chester rising；
slowly pulling off the loose robe he wore； and sitting down before
the dressing…glass。 ‘Please yourself by all means。’
Having said this in the politest and blandest tone possible； he
went on dressing； and took no further notice of his guest； who
stood in the same spot as uncertain what to do next； eyeing him
sulkily from time to time。
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‘Are you going to speak to me； master？’ he said； after a long
silence。
‘My worthy creature；’ returned Mr Chester； ‘you are a little
ruffled and out of humour。 I’ll wait till you’re quite yourself again。
I am in no hurry。’
This behaviour had its intended effect。 It humbled and abashed
the man； and made him still more irresolute and uncertain。 Hard
words he could have returned； violence he would have repaid with
interest； but this cool； complacent； contemptuous； self…possessed
reception； caused him to feel his inferiority more completely than
the most elaborate arguments。 Everything contributed to this
effect。 His own rough speech； contrasted with the soft persuasive
accents of the other； his rude bearing； and Mr Chester’s polished
manner； the disorder and negligence of his ragged dress； and the
elegant attire he saw before him； with all the unaccustomed
luxuries and comforts of the room； and the silence that gave him
leisure to observe these things； and feel how ill at ease they made
him； all these influences； which have too often some effect on
tutored minds and become of almost resistless power when
brought to bear on such a mind as his； quelled Hugh completely。
He moved by little and little nearer to Mr Chester’s chair； and
glancing over his shoulder at the reflection of his face in the glass；
as if seeking for some encouragement in its expression； said at
length； with a rough attempt at conciliation；
‘Are you going to speak to me； master； or am I to go away？’
‘Speak you；’ said Mr Chester； ‘speak you； good fellow。 I have
spoken； have I not？ I am waiting for you。’
‘Why； look’ee； sir；’ returned Hugh with increased
embarrassment； ‘am I the man that you privately left your whip
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with before you rode away from the Maypole； and told to bring it
back whenever he might want to see you on a certain subject？’
‘No doubt the same； or you have a twin brother；’ said Mr
Chester； glancing at the reflection of his anxious face； ‘which is not
probable； I should say。’
‘Then I have come； sir；’ said Hugh； ‘and I have brought it back；
and something else along with it。 A letter； sir； it is； that I took from
the person who had charge of it。’ As he spoke； he laid upon the
dressing…table； Dolly’s lost epistle。 The very letter that had cost her
so much trouble。
‘Did you obtain this by force； my good fellow？’ said Mr Chester；
casting his eye upon it without the least perceptible surprise or
pleasure。
‘Not quite；’ said Hugh。 ‘Partly。’
‘Who was the messenger from whom you took it？’
‘A woman。 One Varden’s daughter。’
‘Oh indeed！’ said Mr Chester gaily。 ‘What else did you take from
her？’
‘What else？’
‘Yes；’ said the other； in a drawling manner； for he was fixing a
very small patch of sticking plaster on a very small pimple near
the corner of his mouth。 ‘What else？’
‘Well a kiss；’ replied Hugh； after some hesitation。
‘And what else？’
‘Nothing。’
‘I think；’ said Mr Chester； in the same easy tone； and smiling
twice or thrice to try if the patch adhered—‘I think there was
something else。 I have heard a trifle of jewellery spoken of—a
mere trifle—a thing of such little value； indeed； that you may have
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forgotten it。 Do you remember anything of the kind—such as a
bracelet now； for instance？’
Hugh with a muttered oath thrust his hand into his breast； and
drawing the bracelet forth； wrapped in a scrap of hay； was about
to lay it on the table likewise； when his patron stopped his hand
and bade him put it up again。
‘You took that for yourself my excellent friend；’ he said； ‘and
may keep it。 I am neither a thief nor a receiver。 Don’t show it to
me。 You had better hide it again； and lose no time。 Don’t let me
see where you put it either；’ he added； turning away his head。
‘You’re not a receiver！’ said Hugh bluntly； despite the
increasing awe in which he held him。 ‘What do you call that；
master？’ striking the letter with his heavy hand。
‘I call that quite another thing；’ said Mr Chester coolly。 ‘I shall
prove it presently； as you will see。 You are thirsty； I suppose？’
Hugh drew his sleeve across his lips； and gruffly answered yes。
‘Step to that closet and bring me a bottle you will see there； and
a glass。’
He obeyed。 His patron followed him with his eyes； and when his
back was turned； sm