"FARM TO LET." 127 



tolerably well-filled book-case too much stuffed with 

 stitched reports and periodicals, there was nothing 

 else noticeable in the general medley, excepting 

 an ingenious atrocity in the shape of an easy chair 

 with a traversing desk, and a shaded reading-lamp, 

 screwed into one of the arms. A wood fire had 

 burnt out in the hearth, leaving the ends of the 

 brands reclined despondingly against the "dogs," 

 old fashioned and biped articles, which reared 

 each a long swan neck and head of silver, by way 

 of focal ornament and finish, and which people 

 who came on business always fixed their eyes upon, 

 and at some convenient pause registered their ap- 

 proval of, in a tone that took some credit for origi- 

 nality of taste. 



The windows looked eastward, and the sun was 

 shining in : the weighty-looking pacquet had not 

 been long on the table before the door opened, and 

 a shooting-jacket, waistcoat and trowsers, all of the 

 same pattern, entered the room : a cup of coffee was 

 hastily poured out, and the seal of the pacquet 

 broken. A quantity of letters fell out ; one of which 

 ran as follows : 



"Dear Sir, We inclose to you applications for 

 Farm, marked 1 to 14, of which be pleased to return 

 those you wish answered. "We had yesterday -six 



