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I made desperate efforts。 I found they were all anxious to know
what sort of life I had led before I came in for the Thorpe
Ambrose property； and I did my best to satisfy them。 And what
came of that； do you think？ Hang me； if I didn't disappoint them
for the second time！ When they found out that I had actually
never been to Eton or Harrow； or Oxford or Cambridge； they were
quite dumb with astonishment。 I fancy they thought me a sort of
outlaw。 At any rate； they all froze up again； and down I fell the
second step in their estimation。 Never mind！ I wasn't to be
beaten； I had promised you to do my best； and I did it。 I tried
cheerful small…talk about the neighborhood next。 The women said
nothing in particular； the men； to my unutterable astonishment；
all began to condole with me。 I shouldn't be able to find a pack
of hounds； they said； within twenty miles of my house； and they
thought it only right to prepare me for the disgracefully
careless manner in which the Thorpe Ambrose covers had been
preserved。 I let them go on condoling with me； and then what do
you think I did？ I put my foot in it again。 'Oh； don't take that
to heart！' I said； 'I don't care two straws about hunting or
shooting； either。 When I meet with a bird in my walk； I can't for
the life of me feel eager to kill it； I rather like to see the
bird flying about and enjoying itself。' You should have seen
their faces！ They had thought me a sort of outlaw before； now
they evidently thought me mad。 Dead silence fell upon them all；
and down I tumbled the third step in the general estimation。 It
was just the same at the next house； and the next and the next。
The devil possessed us all； I think。 It _would_ come out； now in
one way； and now in another； that I couldn't make speechesthat
I had been brought up without a university educationand that I
could enjoy a ride on horseback without galloping after a
wretched stinking fox or a poor distracted little hare。 These
three unlucky defects of mine are not excused； it seems； in a
country gentleman （especially when he has dodged a public
reception to begin with）。 I think I got on best； upon the whole；
with the wives and daughters。 The women and I always fell； sooner
or later； on the subject of Mrs。 Blanchard and her niece。 We
invariably agreed that they had done wisely in going to Florence；
and the only reason we had to give for our opinion was that we
thought their minds would be benefited after their sad
bereavement； by the contemplation of the masterpieces of Italian
art。 Every one of the ladiesI solemnly declare itat every
house I went to； came sooner or later to Mrs。 and Miss
Blanchard's bereavement and the masterpieces of Italian art。 What
we should have done without that bright idea to help us； I really
don't know。 The one pleasant thing at any of the visits was when
we all shook our heads together； and declared that the
masterpieces would console them。 As for the rest of it； there's
only one thing more to be said。 What I might be in other places I
don't know： I'm the wrong man in the wrong place here。 Let me
muddle on for the future in my own way； with my own few friends；
and ask me anything else in the world； as long as you don't ask
me to make any more calls on my neighbors。〃
With that characteristic request； Allan's report of his exploring
expedition among the resident gentry came to a close。 For a
moment Midwinter remained silent。 He had allowed Allan to run on
from first to last without uttering a word on his side。 The
disastrous result of the visitscoming after what had happened
earlier in the day； and threatening Allan； as it did； with
exclusion from all local sympathies at the very outset of his
local careerhad broken down Midwinter's power of resisting the
stealthily depressing influence of his own superstition。 It was
with an effort that he now looked up at Allan； it was with an
effort that he roused himself to answer。
〃It shall be as you wish；〃 he said； quietly。 〃I am sorry for what
has happened； but I am not the less obliged to you； Allan； for
having done what I asked you。〃
His head sank on his breast； and the fatalist resignation which
had once already quieted him on board the wreck now quieted him
again。 〃What _must_ be； _will_ be；〃 he thought once more。 〃What
have I to do with the future； and what
has he？〃
〃Cheer up！〃 said Allan。 〃_Your_ affairs are in a thriving
condition； at any rate。 I paid one pleasant visit in the town；
which I haven't told you of yet。 I've seen Pedgift； and Pedgift's
son； who helps him in the office。 They're the two jolliest
lawyers I ever met with in my life； and； what's more； they can
produce the very man you want to teach you the steward's
business。〃
Midwinter looked up quickly。 Distrust of Allan's discovery was
plainly written in his face already； but he said nothing。
〃I thought of you；〃 Allan proceeded； 〃as soon as the two Pedgifts
and I had had a glass of wine all round to drink to our friendly
connection。 The finest sherry I ever tasted in my life； I've
ordered some of the samebut that's not the question just now。
In two words I told these worthy fellows your difficulty； and in
two seconds old Pedgift understood all about it。 'I have got the
man in my office；' he said； 'and before the audit…day comes； I'll
place him with the greatest pleasure at your friend's disposal。'
〃
At this last announcement； Midwinter's distrust found its
expression in words。 He questioned Allan unsparingly。
The man's name； it appeared was Bashwood。 He had been some time
（how long； Allan could not remember） in Mr。 Pedgift's service。 He
had been previously steward to a Norfolk gentleman （name
forgotten） in the westward district of the county。 He had lost
the steward's place； through some domestic trouble； in connection
with his son； the precise nature of which Allan was not able to
specify。 Pedgift vouched for him； and Pedgift would send him to
Thorpe Ambrose two or three days before the rent…day dinner。 He
could not be spared； for office reasons； before that time。 There
was no need to fidget about it； Pedgift laughed at the idea of
there being any difficulty with the tenants。 Two or three day's
work over the steward's books with a man to help Midwinter who
practically understood that sort of thing would put him all right
for the audit； and the other business would keep till afterward。
〃Have you seen this Mr。 Bashwood yourself； Allan？〃 asked
Midwinter； still obstinately on his guard。
〃No；〃 replied Allan 〃he was outout with the bag； as young
Pedgift called it。 They tell me he's a decent elderly man。 A
little broken by his troubles； and a little apt to be nervous and
confused in his manner with strangers； but thoroughly competent
and thoroughly to be depended onthose are Pedgift's own words。〃
Midwinter paused and considered a little； with a new interest in
the subject。 The strange man whom he had just heard described；
and the strange man of whom he had asked his way where the three
roads met； were remarkably like each other。 Was this another link
in the fast…lengthening chain of events？ Midwinter grew doubly
determined to be careful； as the bare doubt that it might be so
pa