not conceive it possible that he should be debarred by his mother's opposition. "There is no son in England loves his mother better than I do," he said to himself; "but there are some things which a man can not stand. She would have married me to that block of stone if I would have let her; and now, because she is disappointed there—Insignificant! I never in my life heard any thing so absurd, so untrue, so uncharitable, so—She'd like me to bring a dragon home, I suppose. It would serve her right if I did—some creature that would make the house intolerable to her. She must do it, though," he said again, "or she and I will quarrel;" and then he turned off toward the gate, preparing to go to the Parsonage.
"My lord, have you heard what has happened?" said the gardener, coming to him at the gate. The man was out of breath and almost overwhelmed by the greatness of his own tidings.
"No, I have heard nothing. What is it?"
"The bailiffs have taken possession of every thing at the Parsonage."
It has been already told how things went on between the Tozers, Mr. Curling, and Mark Robarts during that month. Mr. Forrest had drifted out of the business altogether, as also had Mr. Sowerby, as far as any active participation in it went. Letters came frequently from Mr. Curling to the Parsonage, and at last came a message by special mission to say that the evil day was at hand. As far as Mr. Curling's professional experience would enable him to anticipate or foretell the proceedings of such a man as Tom Tozer, he thought that the sheriff's officers would be at Framley Parsonage on the following morning. Mr. Curling's experience did not mislead him in this respect.
"And what will you do, Mark?" said Fanny, speaking through her tears, after she had read the letter which her husband handed to her.
"Nothing. What can I do? They must come."
"Lord Lufton came to-day. Will you not go to him?"
"No. If I were to do so, it would be the same as asking him for the money."
