He comes to the Well or to the ordinary to-day, and it would be highly ridiculous to make a scene." "True, true; find him out, my dear Jekyl, and persuade him how foolish it will be to bring our family quarrels out before strangers, and for their amusement.

They shall see the two bears can meet without biting .-- Go--go--I will follow you instantly--go, and remember you have my full and exclusive confidence .-- Go, half-bred, startling fool!" he continued, the instant Jekyl had left the room, "with just spirits enough to ensure your own ruin, by hurrying you into what you are not up to .-- But he has character in the world--is brave--and one of those whose countenance gives a fair face to a doubtful business.

He is my creature, too--I have bought and paid for him, and it would be idle extravagance not to make use of him--But as to confidence--no confidence, honest Hal, beyond that which cannot be avoided.

If I wanted a confidant, here comes a better than thou by half--Solmes has no scruples--he will always give me money's worth of zeal and secrecy _for_ money." His lordship's valet at this moment entered the apartment, a grave, civil-looking man, past the middle age, with a sallow complexion, a dark thoughtful eye, slow, and sparing of speech, and sedulously attentive to all the duties of his situation.
"Solmes,"-- said Lord Etherington, and then stopped short.
"My lord"-- There was a pause; and when Lord Etherington had again said, "Solmes!" and his valet had answered, "Your lordship," there was a second pause; until the Earl, as if recollecting himself, "Oh! I remember what I wished to say--it was about the course of post here.

It is not very regular, I believe ?" "Regular enough, my lord, so far as concerns this place--the people in the Aultoun do not get their letters in course." "And why not, Solmes ?" said his lordship.
"The old woman who keeps the little inn there, my lord, is on bad terms with the post-mistress--the one will not send for the letters, and the other will not dispatch them to the village; so, betwixt them, they are sometimes lost or mislaid, or returned to the General Post-office." "I wish that may not be the case of a packet which I expect in a few days--it should have been here already, or, perhaps, it may arrive in the beginning of the week--it is from that formal ass, Trueman the Quaker, who addresses me by my Christian and family name, Francis Tyrrel.