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him a generous and desirable landlord. With Farmer Fallow he held long conversations, and even that individual began to come round to the opinion that he might probably be a better person than the world gave him credit for. The son-in-law concentrated the major portion of his attention on the garden and hot-houses, and Letitia supervised every hole and corner of the mansion from the cellars and the first-floor offices to the most elevated attic. She had long interviews with the cook, and protested that no house in the country should have a more ample store of pickles and preserves.

When Sunday came, the new family were, of course, expected at church. The seats were unusually filled, as all were anxious to have a full, continuous gaze at the rich Londoners, and especially at the lady, whose beauty rumour had spoken with trumpet tongue. The spinster sisters had taken their seats, and were sitting with impatient look towards the door, by which the strangers were to effect their ingress. The large pew where the De Bohuns had sat for time immemorial,

and above which mural tablets bespoke their great virtues and illustrious deeds, had, like the mansion, undergone an entire renovation. The time-worn mats, and shabby hassocks had been removed in order to give place to carpets, softly stuffed cushions; and crimson cloth, and shining rows of brass nails, imparted a showiness to its interior, and made it a very comfortable place for devotion. Mr. Inglis contrived that they should go in rather late, well knowing that by keeping expectation on tip-toe, they would be more thoroughly appreciated when they did appear. That gentleman was aware of it being deemed vulgar to be amongst the first assemblers, and he now had reason to be very scrupulous relative to all such matters. He had on one or two occasions attended service at St. George's, and the Quebec Chapel, Portman Square, where he had beheld gouty Earls and fat Duchesses heralded by powdered flunkeys bearing a goodly load of spiritual books under their arm, and he resolved to emulate their very genteel and very humble example, consequently, the footman

of the Manor House kept at a very respectful distance behind them till he gained the hoary porch, he then took the lead, deposited the prayer books and bibles, and very deferentially held open the pew door. The new family entered with majestic step, and the "observed of all observers," took their places amongst the soft cushions and scarlet splendour of the "squire's pew." The spinster sisters looked scanningly, the parson turned his head, and Mr. Shears actually forgot to say "Amen," whilst every rustic face was raised to contemplate the London Croesus, who had now succeeded their ancient rulers. Letitia evidently felt her preferment, her husband, according to his wont, ran his fingers through his hair, his eye the while being directed to all places save his book, and his worthy father-in-law stood as erect as a robed mayor joining in a cathedral chaunt. Thus passed their debut before the Elleringaytonians. On leaving, the footman opened the door, and the family departed in the order in which they came.

As it may be imagined, popular report, as

it usually does, whether of good or ill, ran into an extreme, and magnified Gideon's wealth at least four-fold. Some even went so far as to declare that he did not even himself know the extent of his riches, and he was, by the unanimous consent of the villagers, accounted the richest man in the country. Some said he would be made a member of Parliament, others averred that he had again and again been requested to sit for the City of London, and a few were informed, on the most unquestionable authority, that he was on the list to be a lord! Mr. Inglis was swelled also into immense dimensions by that vague creator of the marvellous-report. He was even deemed a more powerful personage than his own vanity could have led him to aspire to; but it was that gentleman's good fortune to know nothing of what they deemed him, or it would have turned his head more awry than it actually was already. With regard to the lady, her beauty had been the theme of applause-but it was incontestable that in this particular there had been some mistake, as

the simplest rustic in church would protest that she was not to be compared to Kate De Bohun, as they generally called her, and no one ever said Miss De Bohun was a beauty.

The time now passed very tranquilly, the love of novelty had not lost its zest, one improvement after another was devised, till nothing remained to be desired, and everything within, without, and around the mansion, bore the characteristic of order, renovation, and neatness. Mr. Clynchiere, fearing his active mind could never comfortably stagnate into sheer idleness, determined on occupying it with a little amateur farming. He purchased Marshall's prolix tomes on agriculture and planting, bought various newfashioned implements of husbandry, and fully resolved by the happy union of science and practical acumen, to demonstrate to those dull bumpkins and bucolic squires amongst whom he had settled himself, not only that the agricultural classes are the most ignorant and unscientific set in the community, but that, with little or no additional outlay, it was

VOL. II.

I

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