Philip was very cordially received by Mr. John Martindale, who did not interrogate him as usual on the object of his visit to London. This omission was a symptom of indifference; but a still stronger symptom was manifested when Philip announced to his relative the business on which he had come to town. As soon as he had done speaking, the old gentleman in his usual abrupt manner replied: “Well, do as you like. I think a smaller house may be better for you. But as for my going to reside there, I should not think of such a thing. I shall sell the Abbey, if I can have a price for it.”
“Sell it, sir!” replied Philip in the utmost astonishment; “you surely are not serious.”
“But I am decidedly serious,” said the old gentleman; “I have had the amusement of building the house, and so far it has answered my purpose. It is of no farther use to me. Will you buy it?”
Philip smiled at the question; but the smile cost him a great effort. He saw that he was destined to be the sport of circumstances, and he inwardly groaned at his very unfortunate lot; that the line which he had pursued in hopes of coming into possession of a valuable inheritance, had brought him into painful and mortifying perplexities. He thought within himself how foolish he should look at being compelled to leave his splendid mansion; but he had never thought before how much more foolish he looked, when he was only nominal master of a mansion which was far too large for him, and too magnificent for his actual or possible means. It was, indeed, by the more knowing ones shrewdly suspected that Mr. John Martindale had, in building so splendid a concern, seriously transgressed the limits of prudence, and that he had not the ability, supposing him to have the inclination, suitably and consistently to occupy so large and splendid a building. There had need be very great pleasure in building, for there are often very great pains and mortifications resulting from efforts at architectural magnificence. Blessings, however, rest on the heads of those ingenious architects who let us have splendour so cheap, and who convert plaister into stone, and splinters into timber!
To return to our subject. The old gentleman seriously and coolly persisted in his determination to sell the house, and as coolly did he accept Philip’s resignation of his possession. Mr. Martindale the elder merely said: