er side?"

"O! you want to know if I crossed the Channel?"

"Had you a pleasant passage, sir?"

"Yes, tolerable."

"Thank God! I hope you'll make a long stay with us, sir, in this part
of the counthry. If you have any business to do with Mr. Lindsay--as of
coorse you have--why, I don't think you and he will quarrel; and by the
way, sir, I know him and the family well, and if I only got a glimpse, I
could throw in a word or two to guide you in dalin' wid him--that is, if
I knew the business."

"As to that," replied Woodward, "it is not very particular; I am only
coming on a pretty long visit to him, and as you say you know the
family, I would feel glad to hear what you think of them."

"Misther Lindsay, or rather Misther Charles, and you will have a fine
time of it, sir. There's delightful fishin' here, and the best of
shootin' and huntin' in harvest and winter--that is, if you stop so
long."

"What kind of a man is Mr. Lindsay?"

"A fine, clever (*Portly, large, comely) man, sir; six feet in his
stockin' soles, and made in proportion."

"But I want to know nothing about his figure; is the man reputed good or
bad?"

"Why, just good or bad, sir, according as he's treated."

"Is he well liked, then? I trust you understand me now."

"By his friends, sir, no man betther--by them that's his enemies, not so
well."

"You mentioned a son of his, Charles, I think; what kind of a young
fellow is he?"

"Very like his father, sir."

"I see; well, I thank you, my friend, for the liberality of your
information. Has he any daughters?"

"Two, sir; but very unlike their mother."

"Why, what kind of a woman is their mother?"

"She's a saint, sir, of a sartin class--ever and always at her prayers,"
(_sotto voce_, "such as they are--cursing her fellow-cratures from
mornin' till night.")

"Well, at all events, it is a good thing to be religious."

"Devil a better, sir; but she, as I said, is a saint from--heaven"
(_sotto voce_, "and very far from it too.) But, sir, there's a lady
in this neighborhood--I won't name her--that has a tongue as sharp and
poisonous as if she lived on rattlesnakes; and she has an eye of her own
that they say is every bit as dangerous."

"And who is she, my good fellow?"

"Why, a very intimate friend of Mrs. Lindsay's, and seldom out of her
company. Now, sir, do you see that house wid the tall chimleys, or
rather do you see the tall chimleys--for you can't see the house itself?
That's