"
"You told my brother, Lord Marney, this?"
"Oh! it's Mr Charles I'm speaking to! My service to you, sir;
I'm glad to see you in these parts again. It's a long time
that we have had that pleasure, sir. Travelling in foreign
parts, as I have heard say?"
"Something of that; but very glad to find myself at home once
more, Mr Bingley, though very sorry to have such a welcome as
a blazing rick at the Abbey farm."
Well, do you know, Mr Charles. between ourselves," and Mr
Bingley lowered his tone, and looked around him, "Things is
very bad here; I can't make out, for my part, what has become
of the country. Tayn't the same land to live in as it was
when you used to come to our moor coursing, with the old lord;
you remember that, I be sure, Mr Charles?"
"'Tis not easy to forget good sport, Mr Bingley. With your
permission, I will put my horse up here for half an hour. I
have a fancy to stroll to the ruins."
"You wunna find them much changed," said the farmer, smiling.
"They have seen a deal of different things in their time! But
you will taste our ale, Mr Charles?"
"When I return."
But the hospitable Bingley would take no denial, and as his
companion waived on the present occasion entering his house,
for the sun had been some time declining, the farmer, calling
one of his labourers to take Egremont's horse, hastened into
the house to fill the brimming cup.
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