It was still a most
delicate hand, like ivory, a little yellowed with age, but fine, the
veins standing out a little upon it, the finger-tips still pink. "You
speak," she said, "as if you expected me to take the law in my own hands.
No, no, my old friend; never fear, you shall have the doing of it."
"Whenever you please, my dear lady--whenever you please. Such a thing
cannot be done an hour too soon. Shall I take your instructions now?"
Lady Mary laughed, and said, "You were always a very keen man for
business. I remember your father used to say, Robert would never neglect
an opening."
"No," he said, with a peculiar look. "I have always looked after my
six-and-eightpences; and in that case it is true, the pounds take care of
themselves."
"Very good care," said Lady Mary; and then she bade her young companion
bring that book she had been reading, where there was something she
wanted to show Mr. Furnival. "It is only a case in a novel, but I am sure
it is bad law; give me your opinion," she said.
He was obliged to be civil, very civil. Nobody is rude to the Lady Marys
of life; and besides, she was old enough to have an additional right to
every courtesy. But while he sat over the novel, and tried with
unnecessary vehemence to make her see what very bad law it was, and
glanced from her smiling attention to the innocent sweetness of the girl
beside her, who was her loving attendant, the good man's heart was sore.
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