side; a large deer horn-handled knife were seen through the open door of and fork, strongly suggestive of the pantry, all ready for the aprounds of beef backing it behind. proaching supper- in the turkeys, In other recesses were the books geese, and ribs of beef which hung which Lilian had added to his from hooks, in preparation for the library, and little models of ploughs morrow's feast in the more distant and winnowing-machines. vista of salting - pans and picklingtubs, milk - pails, and large homemade cheeses. There was fatness everywhere a fatness which had endured through generations; and it seemed as if leanness had never fallen on the tribe.

Waste and wastrels were, however, bitterly denounced by Guy Penrice. Every one should have a full belly, he said, but every one should work for it. The chairs and forms had been placed along the wall, and the supper tables drawn up also into retirement under the windows, leaving the floor clear for dance or revel.

The dame, too, had her relics and knick-knacks. She had her bowl - a syllabub bowl― handsomer and more modern than her spouse's. There were also pieces of delicate china - ware spread about, and an ivory cabinet, evidently a gift from George. Treasured there was also an old-fashioned pillow for lace-making, with all its little bobbins, evidently a relic of the industrial skill of some grandmother or great-aunt. Lilian had striven to get a place for her guitar, but this was ignominiously banished by the yeoman, who said he would The dame was moving about with have no such fal-dals there. The a host of handmaidens finishing the room retained much of its original arrangements. A buxom dame she character when belonging to a was comely and brisk. Her face higher state. An oak cornice ran would have been homely but for a round the ceiling, and the walls gentle bright expression which lay were wainscoted. Their dark tone on it, and which had evidently was enlivened now by wreaths and grown out of contact with higher garlands of laurels, laurestines, and natures. Years of ease and comfort holly berries, which hung on the had left her cheeks fresh and soft; panels and columns of the same, her arms, too, were still smooth and which were ranged up and down plump. She wore her own soft grey between them. Little sconces, too, hair, for her spouse denounced unfor lighting up, stood in their sparingly all frisees and frisettes, centres. Next to warmth, the char- and this added to the effect of softacteristic most predominant and ness. Her dress was behind the manifest was fatness - plenty. fashion of her generation, in accordhad its witnesses in the stout ser- ance with the taste of her husband. vants, who moved about with the A lace cap was fastened under her satisfied air of full-bellied labour- chin by pinners; her gown was of in the dogs, whose sleekness spoke thick strong silk of sober hue, the of a fatness in the crumbs which skirt of which was now looped up fell from the table in the cats, through the pocket-hole to avoid which purred before the fires in unnecessary contact with dust or lazy innocence of the necessity of dirt. As a further precaution she catching mice except for pastime. had wrapped a large apron around It had its tokens in the great hams her. Her eye was not sharp, nor and pieces of bacon which lay like boulders in the succession of racks which hung all along the ceiling, some cut flitches or sides showing tempting strata of fat and lean-in The servants all said that missus the geese and salmon which hung to be dried and smoked in the chimney in the dressed joints which

It

was her voice; and yet the eye seemed to be everywhere, and the voice had a certain peremptoriness which insured immediate attention.

would do more in one hour with her quiet way, than the maister in two with his tantrums; and his

man, you can al'ays have a day o'er the manor; and if you'm fond of riding, there's al'ays a hoss for ye."

The curate acknowledged the kindness.

the other end. He had apparently reached the height of bliss when taken up in the huntsman's arms. This special favour was not due to him for his extrinsic beauty - an uglier creature never stood on four The dame now took up her part, legs. He was an old, dirty white, and made inquiries as to his lodging straight haired terrier, very small and his comforts, revolving in her and very lean, with a black spot own mind how she could supply over one eye, which looked like a the poor young man with fresh patch - the other had been halfmilk, butter, and eggs from the farm closed by a bite and part of his without offence. The curate began jaw was bitten off, besides smaller to feel inwardly as well as outward- wounds. But Cappy, familiar for ly warm, under this flow of good Capsicum, was a hero in his geneoffices. He thought, however, that ration, whose deeds of prowess the absence of the legacy made stood high in the dog chronicle. rather a gap in the scene. This absence was soon accounted for. "Dame," said her spouse, where's Lily? where's the lass?

66

"Oh, she's gone to fetch the girls; they'll be here presently."

66

They'll be heard afore they'm seen-half a mile off you'll hear 'em twittering and chirping like sparrows in the snowy morning."

Another sort of visitor now arrived. "Good to know who that is by the dogs," said the dame.

The sound of his step seemed the signal for a general gathering of the canine species. They came from every hole and corner. The old spaniel uncoiled himself from the the sheep dog came stretching and yawning from the wood corner the old pointer left his place

mat

at the master's feet

"The wishes of the season, marm, and many returns, and the same to you, maister," said Jim, entering the circle, but drawing back, as he saw the curate, with "I axes pardon, I didn't see you had company."

"Come on, James," shouted the yeoman, "'tis only Passon Jones,

and be knows that we'rn all Jans and Joans to - night; there's the tankard by you, though I believe you despises cider."

If Jim had a contempt for that beverage it certainly required a long experience and a deep pull to create the inspiration, for his lips seemed glued to the cup, and he quitted it with a sigh-half of satisfaction at the meeting, and half of regret at the parting.

Cappy han't forgot you, James," said the dame.

"Good to know he oughn't too, arter all I've done for un, marm.”

"Dogs have a strong instinct in such matters, I believe," remarked the curate, wishing to fall in with the conversation of his company, "and remember a kindness a long time."

66 a large greyhound abandoned a reconnoissance in the lower regions, and stalked forth, all to do honour to the huntsman Jim. These were all content with a respectful calm obeisance, acknowledged by a pat on the head or a rub of the ear. A much more enthusiastic reception was given by an old terrier, who might have been taken before for a half-charred log of wood lying on the hearth, and who jumped up now and advanced towards Jim, grinning, wriggling, twisting, and doubling himself, as though he were tying himself in knots and then bursting them again, or sometimes he would seem to go through himself and come out at

"You may well say that, sir; there ben't nothing more grateful than dowgs—that is, good dowgsthey beats 'umans in that; they never forgets a good turn or a good word, or them that has treated 'em well. Now, there's this yere Cappy, he'll never forget how I nussed un when his jaw was tore off-will you,

brother, who set up for a wag, ob- warmed up with spices, and with a served that Guy would stop to crow, roast crab apple bobbing about whilst the missus went and laid an in it. Cider is proper faarmer's egg. The dame evidently indulged drink, so is ale, but I can't take in a delusion common to the house- kindly to your brandies and holwives of that day, that they made lands, and your ports and sherries the most of their time by re--they don't seem to me proper for sorting to peripatetic industry, and faarmer folks, or faarmer life; but had accordingly a stocking hung to here's to you," as the cup passed on her waist, in which she ever and to him, "and wishing you hearty anon knit a few stitches. As she welcome." heard a strange voice in the entrance with her husband, the apron was hastily thrown aside, and the skirt restored to its original flow.

The yeoman ushered in his guest with a "this is cheery, ben't it," and he stretched forth his bands, and then rubbed them as if shaking hands with the warmth. "Here, dame, here's the curate, Master Jones, come to see ye."

The dame made a half-curtsy as she said, "I am sure, Mr. Jones is kindly welcome, but I'm afeard he'll find our feast plays rather rough.”

Oh, he's come to see us in the rough," replied her spouse, " and don't expect to find us very jonteel or French polished."

"Won't he come into the parlour for a bit?" suggested the dame.

"No, no; you can take us there some night when you have your fal-dals and your company; we'll spend the night by the hearth now; so come along, passon." Then taking off his hat, rubbing his head, shaking himself into his boots, and making an abortive attempt to produce a better mutual understanding between his waistcoat and breeches, by which measures he seemed to have accomplished his toilet for the evening, he sat down in a large chair by the hearth. The curate sat opposite, and the dame slid quietly into a bee-hive by the side of her spouse, having first filled the silver tankard with a fragrant beverage, and placed it by him.

"Pass round the cup, dame," so the dame took a slight sip, just kissed the cup, and passed it on to the

curate.

"Don't be afeard, sir," said Penrice, "'twon't hurt; 'tis only cider

"That seems a marked the curate.

solid cup," re

"Yes, 'tis very solid, and have stood good use too, for 'tis very anshent, and have got the date, Anno Domini 1755, but the inscription be rubbed out, and we don't know how we comed by un, whether 'twos a prize, or what they calls a testimonial. I should think, however, there have been liquor enough in that tankard to float a little ship." The curate did not doubt the probability.

"The only other piece of plate belonging to us, was a large snuffbox. My brother have got un, and always wears un in his waistcoat; he's a small man, you know, and we says that it weighs un down, and makes un go lop-sided like a crab."

"I'm afeard, Mr. Jones, you'll find it cruel dull down here-along," broke in the dame; "you up-country folk ben't used to our ways like. The vicar was good company once, but since he've been so hurried in mind about Miss Emily, he han't been so social."

"There ben't no mirth nor moosic in un now," chimed in her spouse. "Then there's the squire, too, a-gone furrin to what they calls the Spa.' "Bad health?

Gout, I sup

No, I think 'twas rather what they calls a atrophy of the purse that drove un away, though he was cruel broke, sure, arter he had to give up the hounds and the hosses, and never took heart in anything, specially after that young Rankin begun to hunt the country. If that prodigal Tom wos here he wud have took ye about and showed ye some sport. Natheless, if you'm a sports