CHAPTER IV.

AT the other side of the highway was the park postern, passing through which we directed our steps towards a grove we saw at some distance, where, from the loud voices. that issued from it, conviviality seemed to have reached its climax.

The scene of revelry was a green glade almost enclosed by fine old oaks, where long tables had been laid out, well charged with solid and satisfying fare. Around them were seated the yeomen and gentry of the neighbourhood, who, having appeased the more pressing calls of appetite, were now dallying

over their wine, and listening with frequent plaudits (none the less lusty for its influence) to the address of an individual who was holding forth at the upper end of the board.

Not far from this position the quick eyes of my daughter soon discovered her grandfather, and, deeming myself privileged by the invitation he had given me, we availed ourselves of the first vacancy to take our places near him.

The chairman appeared to be bringing to a close an address he had been delivering to the company upon agricultural and other matters of mutual concernment.

His face, I fancied, was not wholly unfamiliar to me, though where and when I might have seen it altogether passed my

recollection.

At the first practicable moment Dalham remarked to me (doubtless with a view to information) "Mr. Farleton's observations seem very just."

Mr. Farleton! that then was the Hon.

Cyrus Farleton, whose character and antecedents were so little qualified to gain my regard.

There seemed little in his appearance at first sight to justify this impression; his speech was fluent and sensible, his manner easy and self-possessed, and his person, though not handsome, showing the fine traits and thorough-bred bearing of high birth; but no one who watched his countenance closely could avoid being struck with its strongly vulpine cast (an impression strengthened by the colour of his hair and whiskers), or feeling after the survey that his chief instinct, his leading moral attribute, was craft.

The noisy cheers that graced his periodsmistimed and exaggerated, seemed more the effect of the good fare than any particular admiration of the speaker, and were easily intelligible when it was remembered that the hearers, being chiefly of the family tenantry, were precluded by their position from making large sacrifices to their sincerity.

Yet tho' above board there was shewn this general submission to the sentiments and position of the chairman, below it sounds of mutiny were heard which neither fear nor favor seemed availing to suppress.

As the speaker in the course of his peroration alluded to the growing infirmities of his uncle, touched on the family loss he had sustained, and announced his own assumption (by his lordship's wish) of the control and management of his property, he was greeted at every sentence from underneath by a low but most determined growl.

I was on thorns to think it might be poor old Norman thus misconducting himself, and attempted to administer a monition to him with my toe. The salute, however, by mischance, alighted on the shins of my top booted friend, farmer Topkins, who after lustily declaring his opinion that "The maut had got abune the meal wi' that chap anyhow," being himself concerned in liquor, lost his balance in attempting to rub the injured

part, and descended, amid the laughter of the company, to the Dii inferi of the dinner world, where being still further aggrieved by sundry kicks and pokes intended for the canine culprit, with his dolorous cries of "What are ye punchin' on-d'ye think one's made o' baggin'," he completed the hilarious disorder of the occasion.

There are probably few orators, who could have borne with equanimity interruptions so fatal to what was intended to be a fluent and effective harangue, and Cyrus Farleton was certainly not one of these elect.

His limited stock of patience being exhausted by the submahogany discord of the farmer and the dog, he angrily ordered the keeper to be called, and after a sound rating for neglect of duty, charged him to seize forthwith the latter animal and have him shot.

Deeming his words the effect of shortlived wrath, and not wishing to disturb the com