第8章 CHAPTER III.(4)

Both applications were favorably answered.A skilful,experienced,middle-aged clerk was recommended to him by one of the principal legal firms in London,and immediately engaged to come to Hamley at his own terms;which were pretty high.But,as Mr.Wilkins said it was worth any money to pay for the relief from constant responsibility which such a business as his involved,some people remarked that he had never appeared to feel the responsibility very much hitherto,as witness his absences in Scotland,and his various social engagements when at home;it had been very different (they said)in his father's day.The Heralds'College held out hopes of affiliating him to the South Wales family,but it would require time and money to make the requisite inquiries and substantiate the claim.

Now,in many a place there would be none to contest the right a man might have to assert that he belonged to such and such a family,or even to assume their arms.But it was otherwise in --shire.

Everyone was up in genealogy and heraldry,and considered filching a name and a pedigree a far worse sin than any of those mentioned on the Commandments.There were those among them who would doubt and dispute even the decision of the Heralds'College;but with it,if in his favour,Mr.Wilkins intended to be satisfied,and accordingly he wrote in reply to their letter to say,that of course he was aware such inquiries would take a considerable sum of money,but still he wished them to be made,and that speedily.

Before the end of the year he went up to London to order a brougham to be built (for Ellinor to drive out in wet weather,he said;but as going in a closed carriage always made her ill,he used it principally himself in driving to dinner-parties),with the De Winton Wilkinses'arms neatly emblazoned on panel and harness.Hitherto he had always gone about in a dog-cart--the immediate descendant of his father's old-fashioned gig.

For all this,the squires,his employers,only laughed at him and did not treat him with one whit more respect.

Mr.Dunster,the new clerk,was a quiet,respectable-looking man;you could not call him a gentleman in manner,and yet no one could say he was vulgar.He had not much varying expression on his face,but a permanent one of thoughtful consideration of the subject in hand,whatever it might be,that would have fitted as well with the profession of medicine as with that of law,and was quite the right look for either.Occasionally a bright flash of sudden intelligence lightened up his deep-sunk eyes,but even this was quickly extinguished as by some inward repression,and the habitually reflective,subdued expression returned to the face.As soon as he came into his situation,he first began quietly to arrange the papers,and next the business of which they were the outer sign,into more methodical order than they had been in since old Mr.Wilkins's death.Punctual to a moment himself,he looked his displeased surprise when the inferior clerks came tumbling in half an hour after the time in the morning;and his look was more effective than many men's words;henceforward the subordinates were within five minutes of the appointed hour for opening the office;but still he was always there before them.Mr.Wilkins himself winced under his new clerk's order and punctuality;Mr.Dunster's raised eyebrow and contraction of the lips at some woeful confusion in the business of the office,chafed Mr.Wilkins more,far more than any open expression of opinion would have done;for that he could have met,and explained away as he fancied.A secret respectful dislike grew up in his bosom against Mr.Dunster.He esteemed him,he valued him,and he could not bear him.Year after year Mr.Wilkins had become more under the influence of his feelings,and less under the command of his reason.He rather cherished than repressed his nervous repugnance to the harsh measured tones of Mr.Dunster's voice;the latter spoke with a provincial twang which grated on his employer's sensitive ear.He was annoyed at a certain green coat which his new clerk brought with him,and he watched its increasing shabbiness with a sort of childish pleasure.

But by-and-by Mr.Wilkins found out that,from some perversity of taste,Mr.Dunster always had his coats,Sunday and working-day,made of this obnoxious colour;and this knowledge did not diminish his secret irritation.The worst of all,perhaps,was,that Mr.Dunster was really invaluable in many ways;"a perfect treasure,"as Mr.

Wilkins used to term him in speaking of him after dinner;but,for all that,he came to hate his "perfect treasure,"as he gradually felt that Dunster had become so indispensable to the business that his chief could not do without him.

The clients re-echoed Mr.Wilkins's words,and spoke of Mr.Dunster as invaluable to his master;a thorough treasure,the very saving of the business.They had not been better attended to,not even in old Mr.Wilkins's days;such a clear head,such a knowledge of law,such a steady,upright fellow,always at his post.The grating voice,the drawling accent,the bottle-green coat,were nothing to them;far less noticed,in fact,than Wilkins's expensive habits,the money he paid for his wine and horses,and the nonsense of claiming kin with the Welsh Wilkinses,and setting up his brougham to drive about --shire lanes,and be knocked to pieces over the rough round paving-stones thereof.