Sir Brook Fossbrooke, Volume I.

d cigar between his lips, and his hands in the pockets of his shooting-jacket, he walked impatiently up and d

ould be so. You know we never see any one here when he i

ason. It's our on

, T

n Tuesday the young fellow gave me that book of flies and the top-joint of my rod. Yesterday I lunched with them. To-day they pressed me so hard to dine with them tha

f it would give y

om do I ever see down here? Old Mills and old Tobin, and Larry Day, the dog-breaker. I ask his pardon for putting him la

one, "remember they are both perfect strang

went it too hard in the cavalry. He had a horse for the Derby two years ago." The tone of proud triumph in which he made this announcement seemed to say, Now, all discussion about him may cease. "Not but," added he, after a pause, "you might like the old fellow best; he has such a

go down and ask Dr. Mills to come to tea. It would take o

call him Trafford, and he calls me Lendrick; and the

to Nicholas yet?" aske

do for me. That old bear bullies us all, so

rang the bell as she spoke. A smart-looking lad answered

en coming to tea this evening; don't let the old villain th

nd waistcoat, and drab breeches and white stockings, with large shoe-buckles in his shoes, entered. His face was large and red, the mouth immensely wide, and the eyes far

been pushed up over his forehead, while he still held the county

you?" said Tom Lendrick, haughtily,

llow, with a nervous shake of the head, see

e girl, in a voice of very winning sweetness; "Mr.

las, as if the fact s

t some biscuits, or a sponge-cake, perhaps-whatever, indeed, you thought

s going to g

s," said she, smiling; "but th

phasis on the "friends." "Two strangers. God knows who or what!

Are you the master here? Go off, sir,

ket, and struck each hand on a hip. "Is it when the 'Jidge' is dying, when the newpapers has a

mean to give; sorely there's no carousing in that. And as to grandpapa, papa

and I know him bett

ent for you for the consulta

ok less formal, and give less trouble; and Mears could wait,-he does it very well; and you need n't be put out at all." These last words fell to a whisper; b

down to Court the day he defended Neal O' Gorman for high treason, and I was with him the morning he shot Luke Dillon at Castle

id Tom; but his sister had laid her hand on

ay, "that I did not write, because I preferred sending my message by

sarving the point! because I don't give in that what you're doin' is

we can," said the young man, insolently; but Nic

re 's some of it left it does n't get stale, and one-and-si

t would be better; and two candles on

?" said he, bitterly. "If it's a

oung Lendrick wrenched open the sas

olas; "and here's the company comin' already, or I 'm mistaken. The

away to make some change in her dress to receive the strangers. Meanwhil

t a marvel of elegance and refinement. Not merely were the trees grouped with reference to foliage and tint, but the flower-beds were so arranged tha

y changing the disposition of the plants. He says variety is a law of the natu

in the porch, where drooping honeysuckles and the tangled branches of a

aid Sir Brook. "Old traveller that I am, I scarcely kno

s," said she, with a pleasant smile

n-weir on the river for a tithe of what thes

Eden you 'd have made it a mar

all these-caprices might be pardonable; b

ere and there to show him the grounds, Sir Brook walked beside Lu

e to which we attach value, for my brother tells me you are a great traveller; but it is just possible you have met in your j

self, sent a flush to her cheek. "A man's belongings are his history," said Sir Brook, quickly turning the conversation into an easier channel: "show me his study,

d she, as the two young men came towards

k says that he reads people pretty much as Cuvier pronounced on a mastodon, by some small minute detail that pert

s the most exe

" asked Tom, with a s

I do myself," said Sir Brook

making my future life miserable, here has been Mr. Trafford filling my pocket wi

can show you; the wider a man's experiences the larger his

said Trafford to Mi

ut the old man overheard her, and said: "You are right. The guide ought t

th very short excursions," cried Tom, l

ly, and appropriate; and though you saw at a glance it was all for himself and his own enjoyment it was provided, his good manners and courtesy were ever ready to extend its benefits to other

ello, which always remained at the Nest, made a pleasant accompaniment when she played, and that he

whispered Trafford to Lendrick; "he's the jo

cook," mutte

coo

fish as he gives it, or tasted macaroni as dressed by him. I have a salmon for y

t?" asked the

an by set it?" w

, to preserve and harden the 'curd.' Yes; and I took your hint abo

rrow. Dare I hope that these gentlemen are disengaged, and will honor my

d accepted the invi

you,

happy," sa

r, you must b

is impossible, doct

othing of

never encouraging us to leave ho

eeper, will be so proud to see you, that I 'm not sure she 'll not treat these gentlemen to her brandy peac

, doctor. I k

e is mine;' and besides, I really do want to see how the parsonage will

to a proposal I 've heard for some t

ike it," whisper

ter with me, Lucy," said the docto

sal," said Sir Brook, as the young girl turned towards him. "

half pleased, puzzled how to act, and flattered at the same time by an amount of attention so new to her and so strang

's ear. "She's afraid of the governor; but I kno