CLEVELAND HALL. 57 



be the case in the course of the evening, for when any 

 thing was said which excited a laugh from others, 

 Sir Haggerstone joined in it much in the usual 

 way. The peculiarity I have mentioned, did not 

 arise from any deficiency of intellect. The baronet 

 had lived in the best society, had travelled 

 much, and had read a great deal. He had, how- 

 ever a peculiar absence of mind, and his laugh 

 made one wonder how so discordant a noise could 

 proceed from so feeble a body. 



The vicar contrasted well with Sir Haggerstone. 

 He was a short round man, neat and precise in his 

 dress, with his hair well powdered and turned up 

 behind, like the prints we see of John Wesley. 

 He sidled up to the baronet, and eyed him with 

 unfeigned astonishment. Once or twice he was 

 affected by his laugh, and responded to it with 

 great accuracy, to the surprize of the baronet, 

 who was quite unconscious that he himself had 

 been the occasion of it. Poor Sir Haggerstone ! he 

 carried his peculiarity to the grave with him, and 

 it is even said that he quitted the world making 

 one of his convulsive laughs. 



In these degenerate times, persons have but lit- 

 tle idea of the state in which the two worthy old 

 ladies thought it becoming in them to journey to 

 the village church. The next day was Sunday, 

 and although the weather was fine, and the dis- 

 tance but short, four fat lazy looking horses were 



