If his uncle does not
bring him forward in society, we cannot interfere.'
'It must be a forlorn condition,' said Albinia; 'he is above the
other clerks, and he seems to be voted below the Bayford Elite, since
the Polysyllable has made it so very refined! One never meets him
anywhere now it is too dark to walk after the banking hours. Cannot
we ask him to come in some evening?'
'We cannot have our evenings broken up,' said Mr. Kendal. 'I should
be glad to show him any kindness, but his uncle seems to have ruled
it that he is to be considered more as his clerk than as one of his
family, and I doubt if it would be doing him any service to
interfere.'
They were now at the respectable old freestone building, with
'Goldsmith' inscribed on the iron window-blinds, and a venerable date
carved over the door. Inside, those blinds came high, and let in but
little light over the tall desks, at which were placed the black-horsehair
perches of the clerks, old Mr. Goldsmith himself occupying a lower
throne, more accessible to the clients. One of the high stools stood
empty, and Albinia making inquiry, Mr. Goldsmith answered, with a dry,
dissatisfied cough, that More, as he called him, had struck work, and
gone home with a headache.
'Indeed,' said Albinia, 'I am sorry to hear it. Mr. Hope said he
thought him not looking well.'
'He has complained of headache a good deal lately,' said Mr.
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