A NEW NEIGHBOUR. 241 



commented upon, as highly reprehensible, if nothing worse, no 

 excuses were received from any other family, so that the long 

 dining-table was crowded with guests, a second table being 

 laid out for the juniors, at wliich Fred Beauchamp presided, as 

 many more arrived than were expected ; in fact, the hospitality 

 of the old squire was so unbounded, and his dinner parties so 

 agreeable and devoid of formality, that the heads of families did 

 not scruple to take any friends who might be staying with 

 them at the time. 



Constance, supported on one hand by Lord Malcolm, and 

 Sir Lionel on the other, did the honours with her accustomed 

 grace, faced by the old squire, who divided his attentions 

 between Lady Markham and Mrs. Compton. Will Beau- 

 champ sat between Mrs. Gordon and Blanche, the latter having 

 Captain Markham on her right hand ; Gwynne, Conyers, 

 Tyler, Coventry, and others ranging themselves in order or out 

 of order, without regard to priority or ceremony, with the 

 partners they had selected. Selina, who always felt more at 

 home with the old squire than in her own house, kept the 

 middle of the table in an uproar by her quaint and witty 

 sayings, which no frowns from Lady Markham could suppress. 



" Ah ! " she remarked to Conyers, " mamma may shake her 

 head at me till she shakes it off. Bob, but I am on the right 

 side of the fence to-night, with the old squire to back me up. 

 But who on earth is that fright of a woman opposite, with a 

 face like a cook ? " 



" Hush ! Selina ; that is Mrs. Winterbottom, the wife of that 

 little round-faced, red-nosed man, sitting next Mrs. Compton ; 

 a retired brewer, who has lately purchased a large estate lying 

 between the Holt and the forest, so that the squire was obliged 

 to do the civil thing, and invite him to Bampton, to save the 

 foxes." 



" Goodness ! what a name, Bob : she may feel very wintry 

 below, but there is more than summer heat above, to judge by 

 those peony-looking cheeks." 



Gwynne, who sat next to the lady, seeing the sort of person 

 he had to deal with, kept plying her with champagne every 

 time it was handed round the table, until she exclaimed, " Lorks, 

 Sir Lucius, I feel quite swipey already." 



"Oh, never mind," replied Gwynne, ready to burst with 

 suppressed laughter ; ^' champagne goes for nothing, just puts 

 people into spirits — that's all." 



" Heavens, what a woman ! ' exclaimed Selina, in fits of 



