Aubrey had fixed his residence, Mr. Gammon had made a point of lying in wait on a Sunday morning, for the purpose of ascertaining the church to which they went; and having succeeded, he became a constant, an impassioned, though an unseen observer of Miss Aubrey, from whom he seldom removed his eyes during the service. But this was to him a highly unsatisfactory state of things: he seemed, in fact, not to have made, nor to be likely to make, the least progress towards the accomplishment of his wishes, though much time had already passed away. He was so deeply engrossed with the affairs of Titmouse--which required his presence very frequently at Yatton, and a great deal of his attention in town--as to prevent his taking any decisive steps for some time in the matter nearest his heart. At length, not having seen or heard anything of Mr. Aubrey for some weeks, during which he--Gammon--had been in town, he resolved on a new stroke of policy. "Mr. Quirk," said he one day to his excellent senior partner, "I fancy you will say that I am come to flatter you; but, Heaven knows!--if there _is_ a man on the earth with whom I lay aside disguise, that man is my friend Mr. Quirk. Really, it does seem, and mortifying enough it is to own it, as if events invariably showed that you are right--that I am wrong"--(Here Mr. Quirk's appearance might have suggested the idea of a great old tom-cat who is rubbed down the right way of the fur, and does everything he can to testify the delight it gives him, by pressing against the person who affords him such gratification,)--"especially in financial matters"---- "Ah, Gammon, Gammon! you're really past finding out!--Sometimes, now, I declare I fancy you the very keenest dog going in such matters, and at other times, eh?--not _particularly_ brilliant. When you've seen as much of this world's villany, Gammon, as I have, you'll find it as necessary as I have found it, to lay aside one's--one's--I say--to lay aside all scrup----that is--I mean--one's _fine feelings_, and so forth; you understand, Gammon?" "Perfectly, Mr. Quirk"---- "Well--and may I ask, Gammon, what is the particular occasion of that screwed-up forehead of yours? Something in the wind?" "Only this, Mr. Quirk--I begin to suspect that I did very wrong in recommending you to give an indefinite time to that Mr. Aubrey for payment of the heavy balance he owes us--by Heavens!--see how coolly he treats us!" "Indeed, Gammon, I think so!--Besides--_'tis_ an uncommon heavy balance to owe so long, eh?--Fifteen hundred pounds, or thereabouts?--Gad, it's _that_, at least!"--Gammon shrugged his shoulders and bowed, as if resigned to any step which Mr. Quirk might think proper to take. "He's a villanous proud fellow, that Aubrey, eh?--Your tip-top debtors generally _are_, though--when they've got a bit of a hardship to harp upon"---- "Certainly we ought, when we had him in our power"----