urged his suit, and besought Sophia no longer to delay his happiness. Mrs.
Leicester wished that her niece should now give herself a protector and
friend, who might console her for the uncle she had lost. It was at this
period the _dilapidation charge_ was made. Mrs. Leicester laid the whole
statement before Alfred, declaring that for his sake, as well as for her
niece's, she was resolute to defend herself against injustice. Alfred could
scarcely bring himself to believe that Buckhurst Falconer had acted in the
manner represented, with a rapacity, harshness, and cruelty, so opposite to
his natural disposition. Faults, Alfred well knew that Buckhurst had; but
they were all, he thought, of quite a different sort from those of which he
now stood accused. What was to be done? Alfred was extremely averse from
going to law with a man who was his relation, for whom he had early felt,
and still retained, a considerable regard: yet he could not stand by, and
see the woman he loved, defrauded of nearly half the small fortune she
possessed. On the other hand, he was employed as a professional man, and
called upon to act. He determined, however, before he should, as a last
resource, expose the truth and maintain the right in a court of justice,
previously to try every means of conciliation in his power. To all his
letters the new dean answered evasively and unsatisfactorily, by referring
him to his attorney, into whose hands he said he had put the business, and
he knew and wished to hear nothing more about it. The attorney, Solicitor
Sharpe, was impracticable--Alfred resolved to see the dean himself; and
this, after much difficulty, he at length effected. He found the dean and
his lady tete-a-tete. Their raised voices suddenly stopped short as he
entered. The dean gave an angry look at his servant as Alfred came into the
room.

"Your servants," said Alfred, "told me that you were not at home, but I
told them that I knew the dean would be at home to an old friend."