Tales and Fantasies

as an end of it. There was a contained, prophetic energy in his utterances, even on the slightest affairs; he saw the damned thing; if you did not, it must be from perversity of w

the figure of an old fox-hunter, he enlivened the vale

the intelligence. It was a treat to hear Mr. Naseby defending the Church of England in a volley of oaths, or supporting ascetic morals with an enthusiasm not entirely innocent of port wine. Dick used to wax indignant, and none the less so because, as his father was a skilful disputant, he found himself not seldom in the wrong.

e, sir, for last ni

an would cut in cheerfully. 'You spok

ticular point. I confess there is much force in

les. Only,' he would add, 'bear this in mind, and do remember that a man o

rt. The latter drew slighting comparisons, and remembered that he was the only one who ever apologised. This gave him a high station in his own esteem, and th

r had about every demerit of party letters in general; it was expressed with the energy of a believer; it was personal; it was a little more than half unfair, and about a quarter untrue. The old

of man we want? He has been given the lie, and has swallowed the insult. Is that the

etter with an amateur's pride, and

ctors, his letter would be none the less ungenerous and unjust to Mr. Dalton. We do not choose to give the lie to Mr. Naseby, for we are too well aware of the consequences; but we shall venture instead to print the facts of both cases referred to by this red-hot partisan in another portion of our issue. Mr. Naseby is of course a large proprietor in our ne

e

think to

onymous journalist, 'is of too

h confusion. The moment that his trumpets sounded, he had been disgracefully unhorsed. There was no question as to the facts; they were one and all against the Squire. Richard would h

e extreme meanness of the meal, and the haggard, bright-eyed, consumptive look of t

le in this morning's

by? I published it,' re

opped and swallowed; he was determined that all should go with regularity. 'I have but one question to put to you, sir,' he resumed. '

he called exposure if I kept it back from mine. I am really concerned at what has happened; I sympathise and approve of your emotion, young gentleman; but the attack on Mr. Dalton was gross,

hen the god of fair play came upper-most in his heart, and

ith his back to the fire in a state bordering on apoplexy, his fingers violently knitted under his

sir?' he cried, noddi

r,' said

e read it,

,' replied Richard,

gentleman, 'and what ha

ve been misinfo

so sterile, sir? Have you not a

e, indeed it would be only just, and a free acknowledgment would go far-

ather had been plunged in such deplorable circumstances, I should have thrashed the editor of that vile sheet within an inch of his life. I should have thrashed the man,

' sai

cant about your mother; she thought-she said to me, sir-I'm glad she's in her grave, Dick Naseby. Misinformed! Misinformed, sir? Have you no loyalty

ies, and in short in such a final bodily disorder as made him alike incapable of speech or hearing.