XVIII. The Warden Is Very Obstinate

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Mrs Grantly suggested that, as the action was abandoned, the costs would not be heavy.

'Indeed they will, my dear,' continued he. 'One cannot have the attorney-general up at twelve o'clock at night for nothing--but of course your father has not thought of this.'

'I will sell my furniture,' said the warden. 'Furniture!' ejaculated the other, with a most powerful sneer.

Come, archdeacon,' said the lady, 'we needn't mind that at present. You know you never expected papa to pay the costs.'

'Such absurdity is enough to provoke job,' said the archdeacon, marching quickly up and down the room. 'Your father is like a child. Eight hundred pounds a year!--eight hundred and eighty with the house--with nothing to do. The very place for him. And to throw that up because some scoundrel writes an article in a newspaper! Well--I have done my duty. If he chooses to ruin his child I cannot help it'; and he stood still at the fire-place, and looked at himself in a dingy mirror which stood on the chimney-piece.

There was a pause for about a minute, and then the warden, finding that nothing else was coming, lighted his candle, and quietly said, 'Good-night.'

'Good-night, papa,' said the lady.

And so the warden retired; but, as he closed the door behind him, he heard the well-known ejaculation--slower, lower, more solemn, more ponderous than ever--'Good heavens!'