According to my observation of him, he
deserves his reputation as long as he has his own way, and not a moment
longer.
The next day, exactly as I had foreseen, Aunt Ablewhite was as near to
being astonished as her nature would permit, by the sudden appearance
of her husband. He had barely been a minute in the house, before he was
followed, to MY astonishment this time, by an unexpected complication in
the shape of Mr. Bruff.
I never remember feeling the presence of the lawyer to be more unwelcome
than I felt it at that moment. He looked ready for anything in the way
of an obstructive proceeding--capable even of keeping the peace with
Rachel for one of the combatants!
"This is a pleasant surprise, sir," said Mr. Ablewhite, addressing
himself with his deceptive cordiality to Mr. Bruff. "When I left your
office yesterday, I didn't expect to have the honour of seeing you at
Brighton to-day."
"I turned over our conversation in my mind, after you had gone," replied
Mr. Bruff. "And it occurred to me that I might perhaps be of some use
on this occasion. I was just in time to catch the train, and I had no
opportunity of discovering the carriage in which you were travelling.
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