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grandfather’s time the Casses can do as they like with their land。
Remember that； sir。 Let Dunsey have the money！ Why should you
let Dunsey have the money？ There’s some lie at the bottom of it。”
“There’s no lie； sir；” said Godfrey。 “I wouldn’t have spent the
money myself； but Dunsey bothered me； and I was a fool； and let
him have it。 But I meant to pay it； whether he did or not。 That’s
the whole story。 I never meant to embezzle money； and I’m not the
man to do it。 You never knew me do a dishonest trick； sir？”
“Where’s Dunsey； then？ What do you stand talking there for？
Go and fetch Dunsey； as I tell you； and let him give account of
what he wanted the money for； and what he’s done with it。 He
shall repent it。 I’ll turn him out。 I said I would； and I’ll do it。 He
shan’t brave me。 Go and fetch him。”
“Dunsey isn’t come back； sir。”
“What！ did he break his own neck； then？” said the Squire； with
some disgust at the idea that； in that case； he could not fulfil his
threat。
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“No； he wasn’t hurt； I believe； for the horse was found dead；
and Dunsey must have walked off。 I daresay we shall see him
again by and by。 I don’t know where he is。”
“And what must you be letting him have my money for？
Answer me that；” said the Squire； attacking Godfrey again； since
Dunsey was not within reach。
“Well； sir； I don’t know；” said Godfrey hesitatingly。 That was a
feeble evasion； but Godfrey was not fond of lying； and； not being
sufficiently aware that no sort of duplicity can long flourish
without the help of vocal falsehoods； he was quite unprepared
with invented motives。
“You don’t know？ I tell you what it is； sir。 You’ve been up to
some trick； and you’ve been bribing him not to tell；” said the
Squire； with a sudden acuteness which startled Godfrey； who felt
his heart beat violently at the nearness of his father’s guess。 The
sudden alarm pushed him on to take the next step—a very slight
impulse suffices for that on a downward road。
“Why； sir；” he said； trying to speak with careless ease； “it was a
little affair between me and Dunsey； it’s no matter to anybody else。
It’s hardly worth while to pry into young men’s fooleries： it
wouldn’t have made any difference to you； sir； if I’d not had the
bad luck to lose Wildfire。 I should have paid you the money。”
“Fooleries！ Pshaw！ it’s time you’d done with fooleries。 And I’d
have you know； sir； you must ha’ done with ’em；” said the Squire；
frowning and casting an angry glance at his son。 “Your goings…on
are not what I shall find money for any longer。 There’s my
grandfather had his stables full o’ horses； and kept a good house；
too； and in worse times； by what I can make out； and so might I； if
I hadn’t four good…for…nothing fellows to hang on me like horse…
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leeches。 I’ve been too good a father to you all—that’s what it is。
But I shall pull up； sir。”
Godfrey was silent。 He was not likely to be very penetrating in
his judgments； but he had always had a sense that his father’s
indulgence had not been kindness； and had had a vague longing
for some discipline that would have checked his own errant
weakness and helped his better will。 The Squire ate his bread and
meat hastily； took a deep draught of ale； then turned his chair
from the table； and began to speak again。
“It’ll be all the worse for you； you know—you’d need try and
help me keep things together。”
“Well； sir； I’ve often offered to take the management of things；
but you know you’ve taken it ill always； and seemed to think I
wanted to push you out of your place。”
“I know nothing o’ your offering or o’ my taking it ill；” said the
Squire； whose memory consisted in certain strong impressions
unmodified by detail； “but I know one while you seemed to be
thinking o’ marrying； and I didn’t offer to put any obstacles in your
way； as some fathers would。 I’d as lieve you married Lammeter’s
daughter as anybody。 I suppose； if I’d said you nay； you’d ha’ kept
on with it； but； for want o’ contradiction； you’ve changed your
mind。 You’re a shilly…shally fellow： you take after your poor
mother。 She never had a will of her own； a woman has no call for
one； if she’s got a proper man for her husband。 But your wife had
need have one； for you hardly know your own mind enough to
make both your legs walk one way。 The lass hasn’t said downright
she won’t have you； has she？”
“No；” said Godfrey； feeling very hot and uncomfortable； “but I
don’t think she will。”
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“Think！ Why haven’t you the courage to ask her？ Do you stick
to it； you want to have her—that’s the thing？”
“There’s no other woman I want to marry；” said Godfrey
evasively。
“Well； then； let me make the offer for you； that’s all； if you
haven’t the pluck to do it yourself。 Lammeter isn’t likely to be
loath for his daughter to marry into my family； I should think。 And
as for the pretty lass； she wouldn’t have her cousin—and there’s
nobody else； as I see； could ha’ stood in your way。”
“I’d rather let it be； please； sir； at present；” said Godfrey； in
alarm。 “I think she’s a little offended with me just now； and I
should like to speak for myself。 A man must manage these things
for himself。”
“Well； speak； then； and manage it； and see if you can’t turn over
a new leaf。 That’s what a man must do when he thinks o’
marrying。”
“I don’t see how I can think of it at presen