We reckon five strong…minded single ladies in this
neighborhoodand all five have called on her。 A testimonial was
suggested； but it has been given up at Miss Gwilt's own request；
and a general movement is now on foot to get her employment as a
teacher of music。 Lastly； I have had the honor of a visit from
the lady herself； in her capacity of martyr； to tell me； in the
sweetest manner； that she doesn't blame Mr。 Armadale； and that
she considers him to be an innocent instrument in the hands of
other and more designing people。 I was carefully on my guard with
her； for I don't altogether believe in Miss Gwilt； and I have my
lawyer's suspicions of the motive that is at the bottom of her
present proceedings。
〃I have written thus far； my dear sir； with little hesitation or
embarrassment。 But there is unfortunately a serious side to this
business as well as a ridiculous side； and I must unwillingly
come to it before I close my letter。
〃It is； I think； quite impossible that you can permit yourself to
be spoken of as you are spoken of now； without stirring
personally in the matter。 You have unluckily made many enemies
here； and foremost among them is my colleague； Mr。 Darch。 He has
been showing everywhere a somewhat rashly expressed letter you
wrote to him on the subject of letting the cottage to Major
Milroy instead of to himself； and it has helped to exasperate the
feeling against you。 It is roundly stated in so many words that
you have been prying into Miss Gwilt's family affairs； with the
most dishonorable motives； that you have tried； for a profligate
purpose of your own； to damage her reputation； and to deprive her
of the protection of Major Milroy's roof； and that； after having
been asked to substantiate by proof the suspicions that you have
cast on the reputation of a defenseless woman； you have
maintained a silence which condemns you in the estimation of all
honorable men。
〃I hope it is quite unnecessary for me to say that I don't attach
the smallest particle of credit to these infamous reports。 But
they are too widely spread and too widely believed to be treated
with contempt。 I strongly urge you to return at once to this
place； and to take the necessary measures for defending your
character； in concert with me； as your legal adviser。 I have
formed； since my interview with Miss Gwilt； a very strong opinion
of my own on the subject of that lady which it is not necessary
to commit to paper。 Suffice it to say here that I shall have a
means to propose to you for silencing the slanderous tongues of
your neighbors； on the success of which I stake my professional
reputation； if you will only back me by your presence and
authority。
〃It may； perhaps； help to show you the necessity there is for
your return； if I mention one other assertion respecting
yourself； which is in everybody's mouth。 Your absence is； I
regret to tell you； attributed to the meanest of all motives。 It
is said that you are remaining in London because you are afraid
to show your face at Thorpe Ambrose。
〃Believe me； dear sir； your faithful servant；
〃A。 PEDGIFT； Sen。〃
Allan was of an age to feel the sting contained in the last
sentence of his lawyer's letter。 He started to his feet in a
paroxysm of indignation； which revealed his character to Pedgift
Junior in an entirely new light。
〃Where's the time…table？〃 cried Allan。 〃I must go back to Thorpe
Ambrose by the next train！ If it doesn't start directly； I'll
have a special engine。 I must and will go back instantly； and I
don't care two straws for the expense！〃
〃Suppose we telegraph to my father； sir？〃 suggested the judicious
Pedgift。 〃It's the quickest way of expressing your feelings； and
the cheapest。〃
〃So it is；〃 said Allan。 〃Thank you for reminding me of it。
Telegraph to them！ Tell your father to give every man in Thorpe
Ambrose the lie direct； in my name。 Put it in capital letters；
Pedgiftput it in capital letters！〃
Pedgift smiled and shook his head。 If he was acquainted with no
other variety of human nature； he thoroughly knew the variety
that exists in country towns。
〃It won't have the least effect on them； Mr。 Armadale；〃 he
remarked quietly。 〃They'll only go on lying harder than ever。 If
you want to upset the whole town； one line will do it。 With five
shillings' worth of human labor and electric fluid； sir （I dabble
a little in science after business hours）； we'll explode a
bombshell in Thorpe Ambrose！〃 He produced the bombshell on a slip
of paper as he spoke： 〃A。 Pedgift； Junior； to A。 Pedgift；
Senior。Spread it all over the place that Mr。 Armadale is coming
down by the next train。〃
〃More words！〃 suggested Allan； looking over his shoulder。 〃Make
it stronger。〃
〃Leave my father to make it stronger； sir；〃 returned the wary
Pedgift。 〃My father is on the spot； and his command of language
is something quite extraordinary。〃 He rang the bell； and
dispatched the telegram。
Now that something had been done； Allan subsided gradually into a
state of composure。 He l ooked back again at Mr。 Pedgift's
letter； and then handed it to Mr。 Pedgift's son。
〃Can you guess your father's plan for setting me right in the
neighborhood？〃 he asked。
Pedgift the younger shook his wise head。 〃His plan appears to be
connected in some way； sir； with his opinion of Miss Gwilt。〃
〃I wonder what he thinks of her？〃 said Allan。
〃I shouldn't be surprised； Mr。 Armadale；〃 returned Pedgift
Junior； 〃if his opinion staggers you a little； when you come to
hear it。 My father has had a large legal experience of the shady
side of the sex； and he learned his profession at the Old
Bailey。〃
Allan made no further inquiries。 He seemed to shrink from
pursuing the subject； after having started it himself。 〃Let's be
doing something to kill the time；〃 he said。 〃Let's pack up and
pay the bill。〃
They packed up and paid the bill。 The hour came； and the train
left for Norfolk at last。
While the travelers were on their way back； a somewhat longer
telegraphic message than Allan's was flashing its way past them
along the wires； in the reverse directionfrom Thorpe Ambrose to
London。 The message was in cipher； and； the signs being
interpreted； it ran thus： 〃From Lydia Gwilt to Maria
Oldershaw。Good news！ He is coming back。 I mean to have an
interview with him。 Everything looks well。 Now I have left the
cottage； I have no women's prying eyes to dread； and I can come
and go as I please。 Mr。 Midwinter is luckily out of the way。 I
don't despair of becoming Mrs。 Armadale yet。 Whatever happens；
depend on my keeping away from London until I am certain of not
taking any spies after me to your place。 I am in no hurry to
leave Thorpe Ambrose。 I mean to be even with Miss Milroy first。〃
Shortly after that message was received in London； Allan was back
again in his own house。
It was eveningPedgift Junior had just left himand Pedgift
Senior was expected to call on business in half an hour's time。
CHAPTER V。
PEDGIFT'S REMEDY。
AFTER waiting to hold a preliminary consultation with his son；
Mr。 Pedgift the elder set forth alone for his interview with
Allan at the great house。
Allowing for the difference in their ages； the son was； in this
instance； so accurately the reflection of the father； that an
acquaintance with either of the two Pedgifts was almost
equivalent to an acquaintance with both。 Add some little height
and size to the figure of Pedgift Junior； give more breadth and
boldness to his humor； and some additional solidity and composure
to his confidence in himself； and the presence and character of
Pedgift Senior stood； for all general purposes； revealed before
you。
The lawyer's conveyance to Thorpe Ambrose was his own smart gig；
drawn by his famous fast…trotting mare。 It was his habit to drive
himself； and it was one among the trifling external peculiarities
in which he and his son differed a little； to affect something of
the sporting character in his dress。 The drab trousers of Pedgift
the elder fitted close to his legs； his boots； in dry weather and
wet alike； were equally thick in the sole； his coat pockets
overlapped his hips； and his favorite summer cravat was of light
spotted muslin； tied in the neatest and smallest of bows。 He used
tobacco like his son； but in a different form。 While the younger
man smoked； the elder took snuff copiously； and it was noticed
among his intimates that he always held his 〃pinch〃 in a state of
suspense between his box and his nose when he was going to clinch
a good bargain or to say a good thing。 The art of diplomacy
enters largely into the practice of all successful men in the
lower branch of the law。 Mr。 Pedgift's form of diplomatic
practice had been the same throughout his life； on every occasion
when he found his arts of persuasion required at an interview
with another man。 He invariably kept his strongest argument； or
his boldest proposal； to the last； and invariably remembered it
at the door （after previously taking his leave）； as if it was a
purely accidental consideration which had that instant occurred
to him。 Jocular friends； acquainted by previous experience with
this form of proceeding； had given it the name of 〃Pedgift's
postscript。〃 There were few people in Thorpe Ambrose who did not
know what it meant when the lawyer suddenly checked his exit at
the opened door； came back softly to his chair； with his pinch of
snuff suspended between his box and his nose； said； 〃By…the…by；
there's a point occurs to me；〃 and settled the question off…hand；
after having given it up in despair not a minute before。
This was the man whom the march of events at Thorpe Ambrose had
now thrust capriciously into a foremost place。 This was the one
friend at hand to whom Allan in his social isolation could turn
for counsel in the hour of need。
〃Good…evening； Mr。 Armadale。 Many thanks for your prompt
attention to my very disagreeable letter；〃 said Pedgift Senior；
opening the conversation cheerfully the moment he entered his
client's house。 〃I hope you understand； sir； that I had really no
choice under the circumstances but to write as I did？〃
〃I have very few friends； Mr。 Pedgift；〃 returned Allan； simply。
〃And I am sure you are one of the few。〃