[The House by the Church-Yard by J. Sheridan Le Fanu]@TWC D-Link bookThe House by the Church-Yard CHAPTER XXVIII 2/6
You have _my_ good-will.
_I_ don't see why he should take it from you; but--but--you see his lordship takes odd likings, and he won't always listen to reason.' Nutter was so shocked and exasperated, that for a moment he felt stunned, and put his hand toward his head. 'I think, Sir,' said Nutter, with a stern, deliberate oath, I'll write to Lord Castlemallard this evening, and throw up his agency; and challenge Sturk, and fight him in the morning.' 'You must not resign the agency, Sir; his lordship is whimsical; but you have a friend at court.
I've spoken in full confidence in your secrecy; and should any words pass between you and Dr.Sturk, you'll not mention my name; I rely, Sir, on your honour, as you may on my good-will;' and Dangerfield shook hands with Nutter significantly, and called to Irons, who was waiting to accompany him, and the two anglers walked away together up the river. Nutter was still possessed with his furious resolution to fling down his office at Lord Castlemallard's feet, and to call Sturk into the lists of mortal combat.
One turn by himself as far as the turnpike, however, and he gave up the first, and retained only the second resolve.
Half-an-hour more, and he had settled in his mind that there was no need to punish the meddler that way: and so he resolved to bide his time--a short one. In the meanwhile Dangerfield had reached one of those sweet pastures by the river's bank which, as we have read, delight the simple mind of the angler, and his float was already out, and bobbing up and down on the ripples of the stream; and the verdant valley, in which he and his taciturn companion stood side by side, resounded, from time to time, with Dangerfield's strange harsh laughter; the cause of which Irons did not, of course, presume to ask. There is a church-yard cough--I don't see why there may not be a church-yard laugh.
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