dently in
attendance, if required. The clock struck eleven; a cart had stopped to
watch events, and a gentleman's coachman riding home with a led horse.

"Here they are!" said the brewer.

"Lord Marney himself," said the lawyer.

"And Sir Vavasour Firebrace, I declare. I wonder how he came here," said
a retired gentleman, who had been a tallow-chandler on Holborn Hill.

The vicar took off his hat, and all uncovered. Lord Marney and his
brother magistrate rode briskly up to the inn and rapidly dismounted.

"Well, Snigford," said his lordship, in a peremptory tone, "this is a
pretty business; I'll have this stopped directly."

Fortunate man if he succeed in doing so! The torch of the incendiary had
for the first time been introduced into the parish of Marney; and last
night the primest stacks of the Abbey farm had blazed a beacon to the
agitated neighbourhood.

Book 2 Chapter 4

"It is not so much the fire, sir," said Mr Bingley of the Abbey farm
to Egremont, "but the temper of the people that alarms me. Do you know,
sir, there were two or three score of them here, and, except my own
farm servants, not one of them would lend a helping hand to put out
the flames, though, with water so near, they might have been of great
service."

"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 pre