 was let; and to conclude
an agreement, with the same tenant, for a longer term of occupation. Janet was
drafted into the service of Mrs. Strong, where I saw her every day. She had been
undecided, on leaving Dover, whether or no to give the finishing touch to that
renunciation of mankind in which she had been educated, by marrying a pilot; but
she decided against that venture. Not so much for the sake of principle, I
believe, as because she happened not to like him.
    Although it required an effort to leave Miss Mills, I fell rather willingly
into my aunt's pretence, as a means of enabling me to pass a few tranquil hours
with Agnes. I consulted the good Doctor relative to an absence of three days;
and the Doctor wishing me to take that relaxation, - he wished me to take more;
but my energy could not bear that, - I made up my mind to go.
    As to the Commons, I had no great occasion to be particular about my duties
in that quarter. To say the truth, we were getting in no very good odour among
the tip-top proctors, and were rapidly sliding down to but a doubtful position.
The business had been indifferent under Mr. Jorkins, before Mr. Spenlow's time;
and although it had been quickened by the infusion of new blood, and by the
display which Mr. Spenlow made, still it was not established on a sufficiently
strong basis to bear, without being shaken, such a blow as the sudden loss of
its active manager. It fell off very much. Mr. Jorkins, notwithstanding his
reputation in the firm, was an easy-going, incapable sort of man, whose
reputation out of doors was not calculated to back it up. I was turned over to
him now, and when I saw him take his snuff and let the business go, I regretted
my aunt's thousand pounds more than ever.
    But this was not the worst of it. There were a number of hangers-on and
outsiders about the Commons, who, without being proctors themselves, dabbled in
common-form business, and got it done by real proctors, who lent their names in
consideration of a share in the spoil; - and there were a good many of these
too. As our house now wanted business on any terms, we joined this noble band;
and threw out lures to the hangers-on and outsiders, to bring their business to
us. Marriage licences and small probates were what we all looked for, and what
paid
