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responsibility on myself of telling Mr。 Armadale。〃
After some little hesitation； and some distrustful consideration；
on his side； of Midwinter's face； Richard at last prevailed on
himself to repeat what he had heard that day in the town。
The news of Allan's sudden appearance at Thorpe Ambrose had
preceded the servant's arrival at his destination by some hours。
Wherever he went； he found his master the subject of public
discussion。 The opinion of Allan's conduct among the leading
townspeople； the resident gentry of the neighborhood； and the
principal tenants on the estate was unanimously unfavorable。 Only
the day before； the committee for managing the pubic reception of
the new squire had sketched the progress of the procession； had
settled the serious question of the triumphal arches； and had
appointed a competent person to solicit subscriptions for the
flags； the flowers； the feasting； the fireworks； and the band。 In
less than a week more the money could have been collected； and
the rector would have written to Mr。 Armadale to fix the day。 And
now； by Allan's own act； the public welcome waiting to honor him
had been cast back contemptuously in the public teeth！ Everybody
took for granted （what was unfortunately true） that he had
received private information of the contemplated proceedings。
Everybody declared that he had purposely stolen into his own
house like a thief in the night （so the phrase ran） to escape
accepting the offered civilities of his neighbors。 In brief； the
sensitive self…importance of the little town was wounded to the
quick； and of Allan's once enviable position in the estimation of
the neighborhood not a vestige remained。
For a moment； Midwinter faced the messenger of evil tidings in
silent distress。 That moment past； the sense of Allan's critical
position roused him； now the evil was known； to seek the remedy。
〃Has the little you have seen of your master； Richard； inclined
you to like him？〃 he asked。
This time the man answered without hesitation； 〃A pleasanter and
kinder gentleman than Mr。 Armadale no one could wish to serve。〃
〃If you think that；〃 pursued Midwinter； 〃you won't object to give
me some information which will help your master to set himself
right with his neighbors。 Come into the house。〃
He led the way into the library； and； after asking the necessary
questions； took down in writing a list of the names and addresses
of the most influential persons living in the town and its
neighborhood。 This done； he rang the bell for the head footman；
having previously sent Richard with a message to the stables
directing an open carriage to be ready in an hour's time。
〃When the late Mr。 Blanchard went out to make calls in the
neighborhood； it was your place to go with him； was it not？〃 he
asked； when the upper servant appeared。 〃Very well。 Be ready in
an hour's time； if you please； to go out with Mr。 Armadale。〃
Having given that order； he left the house again on his way back
to Allan； with the visiting list in his hand。 He smiled a little
sadly as he descended the steps。 〃Who would have imagined；〃 he
thought； 〃that my foot…boy's experience of the ways of
gentlefolks would be worth looking back at one day for Allan's
sake？〃
The object of the popular odium lay innocently slumbering on the
grass； with his garden hat over his nose； his waistcoat
unbuttoned； and his trousers wrinkled half way up his
outstretched legs。 Midwinter roused him without hesitation； and
remorselessly repeated the servant's news。
Allan accepted the disclosure thus forced on him without the
slightest disturbance of temper。 〃Oh； hang 'em！〃 was all he said。
〃Let's have another cigar。〃 Midwinter took the cigar out of his
hand； and； insisting on his treating the matter seriously； told
him in plain words that he must set himself right with his
offended neighbors by calling on them personally to make his
apologies。 Allan sat up on the grass in astonishment； his eyes
opened wide in incredulous dismay。 Did Midwinter positively
meditate forcing him into a 〃chimney…pot hat；〃 a nicely brushed
frock…coat； and a clean pair of gloves？ Was it actually in
contemplation to shut him up in a carriage； with his footman on
the box and his card…case in his hand； and send him round from
house to house； to tell a pack of fools that he begged their
pardon for not letting them make a public show of him？ If
anything so outrageously absurd as this was really to be done； it
could not be done that day； at any rate。 He had promised to go
back to the charming Milroy at the cottage and to take Midwinter
with him。 What earthly need had he of the good opinion of the
resident gentry？ The only friends he wanted were the friends he
had got already。 Let the whole neighborhood turn its back on him
if it liked； back or face； the Squire of Thorpe Ambrose didn't
care two straws about it。
After allowing him to run on in this way until his whole stock of
objections was exhausted； Midwinter wisely tried his personal
influence next。 He took Allan affectionately by the hand。 〃I am
going to ask a great favor；〃 he said。 〃If you won't call on these
people for your own sake； will you call on them to please _me？_〃
Allan delivered himself of a groan of despair； stared in mute
surprise at the anxious face of his friend； and good…humoredly
gave way。 As Midwinter took his arm； and led him back to the
house； he looked round with rueful eyes at the cattle hard by；
placidly whisking their tails in the pleasant shade。 〃Don't
mention it in the neighborhood；〃 he said； 〃I should like to
change places with one of my own cows。〃
Midwinter left him to dress； engaging to return when the carriage
was at the door。 Allan's toilet did not promise to be a speedy
one。 He began it by reading his own visiting cards； and he
advanced it a second stage by looking into his wardrobe； and
devoting the resident gentry to the infernal regions。 Before he
could discover any third means of delaying his own proceedings；
the necessary pretext was unexpectedly supplied by Richard's
appearance with a note in his hand。 The messenger had just called
with Mr。 Darch's answer。 Allan briskly shut up the wardrobe； and
gave his whole attention to the lawyer's letter。 The lawyer's
letter rewarded him by the following lines：
〃SIRI beg to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of to…day's
date； honoring me with two proposals； namely； ONE inviting me to
act as your legal adviser； and ONE inviting me to pay you a visit
at your house。 In reference to the first proposal； I beg
permission to decline it with thanks。 With regard to the second
proposal； I have to inform you that circumstances have come to my
knowledge relating to the letting of the cottage at Thorpe
Ambrose which render it impossible for me （in justice to myself）
to accept your invitation。 I have ascertained； sir； that my offer
reached you at the same time as Major Milroy's； and that； with
both proposals thus before you； you gave the preference to a
total stranger； who addressed you through a house agent； over a
man who had faithfully served your relatives for two generations；
and who had been the first person to inform you of the most
impo