f affliction: all harshness, that might once have
thrown a shade over the milder graces of his character, was now
removed: and on this day, above all days in the year, his heart had no
leisure for any feelings but those of kindness--dilated as it was by
the old ancestral glories that were revived and shadowed forth in the
pomps before him. Every part of the ceremonial to _his_ eye was rich
with meaning and symbolic language: and in the eye of the rudest of his
countrymen he saw this language repeated and reflected--the language of
exulting national pride, with a personal application to himself as its
chief local representative. Apart from these patriotic feelings, Sir
Morgan was capable of enjoying that purest of all happiness which is
reflected from the spectacle of happiness in others: he was besides now
riding for the sixtieth time in this annual procession, having begun to
ride when he was no more than five years old: and finally Sir Morgan
was a _gentleman_ in the most emphatic sense of that emphatic word.
Hence it arose that his manners on this occasion were more than merely
courteous or condescending; all thought of condescension was lost and
forgotten in the expression of paternal benignity with which he looked
on those around him: the meanest and the highest, the youngest and
oldest, came in alike for the salutation of his eye: to the poorest
cottagers, as he past, he bowed and smiled with an air of cordial
sincerity that allowed no thought of artifice: and young and old, man
and woman, all smiled with delighted faces and happy confidence as they
bowed and curtsied in return.

As he passed under the inn, Sir Morgan threw up his eyes to the upper
windows; and, observing them thickly crowded with strangers, he moved
with a courtly politeness--at the same time smiling archly but
goodnaturedly as his eye caught that of Mr. Dulberry, whose character
as a reformer had reached him; and who at this moment was the only one
amongst the gentlemen present that stood bolt upright, and proclaimed
his radical patriotism by refusing to acknowledge the lord lieutenant's
salutation. Impressive as Sir Morgan's aspect and costume were, the
attention of every body however was at this moment drawn off to his
youthful companion, who just now turned her eyes with a hurried glance
on the inn--but immediately withdrew them, as she observed the crowd of
gentlemen at the windows. All the strangers were aware that this was
the baronet's ni