ust have been in despair," said Lord Marney.

"We issued our placard instantly of 'Vote for our young Queen and
Egremont,' which was at least more modest, and turned out more popular."

"That I am sure was my mother," said Lord Marney.

"No," said Egremont; "it was the effusion of a far more experienced
mind. My mother was in hourly communication with head quarters, and Mr
Taper sent down the cry by express."

"Peel, in or out, will support the Poor Law," said Lord Marney, rather
audaciously, as he reseated himself after the ladies had retired. "He
must;" and he looked at his brother, whose return had in a great degree
been secured by crying that Poor Law down.

"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.

"If the sovereign could only know her best friends," said Sir Vavasour,
with a sigh.

Lord Marney seemed to get uneasy.

"And avoid the fatal mistakes of her predecessor," continued the
baronet.

"Charles, another glass of claret," said the earl.

"She might yet rally round the throne a body of men"--

"Then we will go to the ladies," said the earl, abruptly disturbing his
guest.

Book 2 Chapter 2

There was music