han a
Lieutenant-General receives after thirty years' service."

A sharp tap at the window-pane interrupted the discussion at this
critical moment, and Mrs. Bayley perceived it was Mr. Dorose, Colonel
Bramleigh's valet, who had come for the letters for the great house.

"Only these, Mrs. Bayley?" said he, half contemptuously.

"Well, indeed, sir; it's a good-sized bundle after all. There's eleven
letters, and about fifteen papers and two books."

"Send them all on to Brighton, Mrs. Bayley. We shall not come down
here till the end of the month. Just give me the 'Times,' however;" and
tearing open the cover, he turned to the City article. "I hope you've
nothing in Ecuadors, Mrs. Bayley; they look shaky. I'm 'hit,' too, in
my Turks. I see no dividend this half." Here he leaned forward, so as to
whisper in her ear, and said, "Whenever you want a snug thing, Mrs. B.,
you're always safe with Brazilians;" and with this he moved off, leaving
the postmistress in a flurry of shame and confusion as to what precise
character of transaction his counsel applied.

"Upon my conscience, we 're come to a pretty pass!" exclaimed the
Captain, as, buttoning his coat, he issued forth into the street; nor
was his temper much improved by finding the way blocked up by a string
of carts and drays, slowly proceeding towards the great house, all
loaded with furniture and kitchen utensils, and the other details of a
large household. A bystander remarked that four saddle-horses had passed
through at daybreak, and one of the grooms had said, "It was nothing to
what was coming in a few days."

Two days after this, and quite unexpectedly by all, the village awoke
to see a large flag waving from the flagstaff over the chief tower of
Castello; and the tidings were speedily circulated that the great
people had arrived. A few sceptics, determining to decide the point for
themselves, set out to go up to the house; but the lodge-gate was closed
and the gatekeeper answered them from behind it, saying that no visitors
were to be admitted; a small incident, in its way, but, after all, it is
by small incidents that men speculate on the tastes and tempers of a new
dynasty.

CHAPTER II. LADY AUGUSTA'S LETTER

It will save some time, both to writer and reader, while it will also
serve to explain certain particulars about those we are interested
in, if I give in this place a letter which was written by Lady Augusta
Bramleigh, the Colonel's young wife,