Instead of arguments for confession, he
could now feel the presence of nothing but its evil consequences:
the old dread of disgrace came back- the old shrinking from the
thought of raising a hopeless barrier between himself and Nancy- the
old disposition to rely on chances which might be favourable to him,
and save him from betrayal. Why, after all, should he cut off the hope
of them by his own act? He had seen the matter in a wrong light
yesterday. He had been in a rage with Dunstan, and had thought of
nothing but a thorough break-up of their mutual understanding; but
what it would be really wisest for him to do, was to try and soften
his father's anger against Dunsey, and keep things as nearly as
possible in their old condition. If Dunsey did not come back for a few
days (and Godfrey did not know but that the rascal had enough money in
his pocket to enable him to keep away still longer), everything
might blow over.
CHAPTER NINE
GODFREY rose and took his own breakfast earlier than usual, but
lingered in the wainscoted parlour till his younger brothers had
finished their meal and gone out, awaiting his father, who always went
out and had a walk with his managing-man before breakfast. Everyone
breakfasted at a different hour in the Red House, and the Squire was
always the latest, giving a long chance to a rather feeble morning
appetite before he tried it.
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