break horses, exercise a supervision over stewards and
bailiffs, and make every body comfortable by taking everything
on his own shoulders.

Lady Marney had received Egremont in a manner which expressed
the extreme satisfaction she experienced at finding him once
more beneath his brother's roof. When he arrived indeed, he
would have preferred to have been shown at once to his rooms,
but a message immediately delivered expressed the wish of his
sister-in-law at once to see him. She received him alone and
with great warmth. She was beautiful, and soft as May; a
glowing yet delicate face; rich brown hair, and large blue
eyes; not yet a mother, but with something of the dignity of
the matron blending with the lingering timidity of the girl.

Egremont was glad to join his sister-in-law again in the
drawing-room before dinner. He seated himself by her side;
and in answer to her enquiries was giving her some narrative
of his travels; the Vicar who was very low church, was shaking
his head at Lady Marney's young friend, who was enlarging on
the excellence of Mr Paget's tales; while Captain Grouse, in a
very stiff white neck-cloth, very tight pantaloons, to show
his very celebrated legs, transparent stockings and polished
shoes, was throwing himself into attitudes in the back ground,
and with a zeal amounting almost to enthusiasm, teaching Lady
Marney's spaniel to beg; when the door opened, and Lord Marney
entered, but as if to make security doubly sure, not alone.
He was accompanied by a neighbour and brother magistrate, Sir
Vavasour Firebrace, a baronet of the earliest batch, and a
gentleman of great family and great estate.