He had but just assumed the charge of the establishment for another year, and he knew that Robert Belcher would be seriously offended, for more reasons than the public knew, or than that person would be willing to confess.

He had never in his life been in more serious trouble.

He hardly tasted his breakfast, and was too crusty and cross to be safely addressed by any member of his family.

Personally he was not in a condition to range the fields, and when he had received the reports of the parties who had made the search, he felt that he had a job to undertake too serious for his single handling.
In the meantime, Mr.Belcher had risen at his leisure, in blissful unconsciousness of the calamities that had befallen his _protege_.

He owned a pew in every church in Sevenoaks, and boasted that he had no preferences.