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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
again it was in a half…conciliatory tone。
“Well； you mean no nonsense about the horse； eh？ You’ll sell
him all fair； and hand over the money？ If you don’t； you know；
everything ’ull go to smash； for I’ve got nothing else to trust to。
And you’ll have less pleasure in pulling the house over my head；
when your own skull’s to be broken too。”
“Ay； ay；” said Dunstan； rising； “all right。 I thought you’d come
round。 I’m the fellow to bring old Bryce up to the scratch。 I’ll get
you a hundred and twenty for him； if I get you a penny。”
“But it’ll perhaps rain cats and dogs tomorrow； as it did
yesterday； and then you can’t go；” said Godfrey； hardly knowing
whether he wished for that obstacle or not。
“Not it；” said Dunstan。 “I’m always lucky in my weather。 It
might rain if you wanted to go yourself。 You never hold trumps；
you know—I always do。 You’ve got the beauty； you see； and I’ve
got the luck； so you must keep me by you for your crooked
sixpence； you’ll ne…ver get along without me。”
“Confound you； hold your tongue！” said Godfrey； impetuously。
“And take care to keep sober tomorrow； else you’ll get pitched on
your head coming home； and Wildfire might be the worse for it。”
“Make your tender heart easy；” said Dunstan； opening the door。
“You never knew me see double when I’d got a bargain to make； it
’ud spoil the fun。 Besides； whenever I fall； I’m warranted to fall on
my legs。”
With that； Dunstan slammed the door behind him； and left
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Godfrey to that bitter rumination on his personal circumstances
which was now unbroken from day today save by the excitement
of sporting； drinking； card…playing； or the rarer and less oblivious
pleasure of seeing Miss Nancy Lammeter。 The subtle and varied
pains springing from the higher sensibility that accompanies
higher culture； are perhaps less pitiable than that dreary absence
of impersonal enjoyment and consolation which leaves ruder
minds to the perpetual urgent companionship of their own griefs
and discontents。 The lives of those rural forefathers； whom we are
apt to think very prosaic figures—men whose only work was to
ride round their land； getting heavier and heavier in their saddles；
and who passed the rest of their days in the half…listless
gratification of senses dulled by monotony—had a certain pathos
in them n