GENEROSITY OF SQUIRE BEAUCHAMP. 77 



Lady-day, for a larger farm, you shall have it then, so make 

 your mind easy, and here's a ten-pound note to help you to get 

 a few things together now.' ' Oh, squire,' said father, ' I be 

 thankful, very thankful, for your kindness to an old, broken- 

 down man ; but where be I to find stock for five acres, much 

 more for a hundred and fifty 1 ' ' You'll find it all there, 

 Hosier, ready for you — sheep, cows, pigs, and horses — for which 

 you can pay me when you are able, and not before.' ' Oh, 

 squire,' said father, falling down on his knees, and crying like a 

 child, ' I can't thank' e, sir, as I ought, my heart's too full.' 

 ' Get up,' said Mr. Beauchamp, ' you blubbering old fool, or I'll 

 horsewhip thee; and now, go along to the housekeeper's 

 room, and harkee, tell Mark Will wants to see him.' There, 

 Tom, that's the old squire, and I'll go through fire and water to 

 serve him or any dear to him." 



" And quite right, too, Mark," replied Tom ; " but here's no 

 fighting to be done now ; and if you won't listen to reason, and 

 be quiet, I'll say no more." 



" Say on, then." 



" First, you'll promise to keep it all snug, and tell the young 

 squire to mind what he's about, too, or the whole thing will be 

 blow'd at once, and I shall get the sack." 



" Well, Tom, you may trust both of us that nothing shall 

 come out ; mum's the word. Now to business." 



" Then you go over to Bampton, Mark, and tell Mr. William 

 that this young scamp is coming down to the Castle, and old 

 Harcourt and the young lady are to be asked over to meet him, 

 and stay a few days, whilst my lord is to gammon the old 

 gentleman about Lord Yancourt being a capital match for his 

 ward, rich, good character, and all that kind of thing ; and the 

 young lord is to gammon the heiress, as he's deuced handsome, 

 and has got the gift of the gab. So tell Mr. William to let his 

 sister see Miss Douglas afore she goes to Marston, and warn 

 her of the trap that's so nicely baited to catch her in ; that's 

 all, Mark, for young girls is always took with fine, tall, smart 

 men, like you and me, Mark; and, by all accounts, Lord Yan- 

 court is all that, with a pretty deal more to boot. And if Miss 

 Constance don't go over directly, and put Miss Blanche up to 

 the trick, it's ten to one she's snapped up at once ; and, by all 

 accounts, she'd better be buried than married to such a young 

 rascal as this is. That's all Mark, so good-bye, and I'll let you 

 know more about him when he comes down." 



Mark did not lose much time in going over to Bampton the 



