text:  Even that gentleman could he have foreseen all that was to follow from this visit would have exchanged for his blandest smile the stern glance with which he regarded from the little back window of the counting-house the procession of John with Miss Hodgett under his arm from the drawing-room to take the seat which should have been his; would have made him his most obsequious bow and regarded him as the best customer that had ever come inside their doors