"It is impossible," said Charles, fresh from the hustings, and
speaking from the card of Taper, for the condition of the
people was a subject of which he knew nothing.
"He will carry it out," said Lord Marney, "you'll see, or the
land will not support him."
"I wish," said Sir Vavasour, "we could manage some
modification about out-door relief."
"Modification!" said Lord Marney; "why there has been nothing
but modification. What we want is stringency."
"The people will never bear it," said Egremont; "there must be
some change."
"You cannot go back to the abuses of the old system," said
Captain Grouse, making, as he thought, a safe observation.
"Better go back to the old system, than modify the new," said
Lord Marney.
"I wish the people would take to it a little more," said Sir
Vavasour; "they certainly do not like it in our parish."
"The people are very contented here, eh Slimsey?" said Lord
Marney.
"Very," said the vicar.
Hereupon a conversation took place, principally sustained by
the earl and the baronet, which developed all the resources of
the great parochial mind. Dietaries, bastardy, gaol
regulations, game laws, were amply discussed; and Lord Marney
wound up with a declaration of the means by which the country
might be saved, and which seemed principally to consist of
high prices and low church.
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