406 THE MASTER OF THE HOUNDS. 



the champagne corks to pop about like irregular musket dis- 

 charges of infantry. The company had fully discussed the 

 merits of the good things provided for them, when Bob Conyers, 

 as Vice-Chairman, jDroposed the toast of the evening in a short, 

 appropriate speech : — " Health and happiness to the two newly- 

 married couples ! " which was received with deafening cheers, 

 lasting for several minutes ; and as they were dying away, the 

 stentorian voice of Farmer Stiles was heard : " Now, gentlemen, 

 one cheer more, as you love him, for the young squire ; and 

 may God bless them both." 



The shout which answered this short address may be ima- 

 gined, and the Earl, seeing the ladies almost overpowered by 

 the thunder of voices, rose to return thanks, which stilled 

 immediately the raging storm into breathless silence. The 

 short, energetic speech of the old j^eer again elicited rounds 

 of applause, although more subdued, from a hint passed up the 

 long table by Conyers. "The Ladies'," and "The Earl's" 

 health then followed in quick succession, after which dancing 

 recommenced, and continued with unabated strength and reso- 

 lution until four o'clock in the morning. 



"With the termination of these festivities and the departure 

 of his guests from Bampton, the Earl relapsed into his usual 

 quiet habits ; but as Ered spent the greater part of his time 

 at the Priory, often dining there, the loss of his children's 

 society, and the solitary fireside in the evening, began to pro- 

 duce the effects which might have been expected upon one 

 whose chief happiness depended on domestic ties and cheerful 

 faces around his table. Ered, noticing his uncle's low spirits, 

 induced him to ride over occasionally to the Priory, where his 

 usual cheerfulness returned, and it was about three weeks after 

 his children's marriage, that when walking with Mrs. Gordon 

 through her grounds, he surprised that lady by suddenly saying, 

 "My dear Mrs. Gordon, it is no use my "attempting to concsal 

 the matter any longer; but the fact is, that I have become so 

 melancholy and feel so lonely in that large house since Will 

 and Con have left me, that I must either come and live at the 

 Priory, or you must come, in pity to my forlorn situation, and 

 live at Bampton." 



Mrs. Gordon, scarcely knowing whether the Earl was 

 serious, or only in one of his joking humours, attempted to 

 rally him for giving way to despondency on account of his 

 children's short absence — but in vain. He assured her that 

 his proposition had been well considered, and although now 

 past the age for romantic passion, he had long entertained 



