ring horses, and giving their particulars as
to age, colour, breeding, qualifications, &c., but beyond this they
had no acquirements. For the elder son, who was only intended to be a
landlord and a magistrate, and to spend about a thousand a year, this
did not signify; but for the younger it afforded but a melancholy
prospect, had his eyes been open to see it.

For the estate, which was all set at a rack rent, was strictly
entailed; and as Jonas had always lived beyond his income, there
would be little to leave to a younger son. When their mother died the
two young men, together with a sister, had been left to the father's
care. She also had learnt to ride, and ride hard--to go to the stable
and see that her own horse was made up--and to rate her groom in
no gentle terms, if things in that department were not as they
should be. She also could be eloquent on thrush, sand-cracks, and
overreaches--could detect a splint or a spavin at a glance--knew all
the parts and portions and joints of a horse much more accurately
than she did of a sheep, and was a thorough judge of condition.
Rumour also not unfrequently hinted, among the tabbies of
Carrick-on-Shannon, that Miss Julia could not only ride with her
brothers in the morning, but that she was also occasionally not ill
inclined to drink with them of an evening.

Things were in this state, when it occurred to Jonas and his
favourite son Fred, that it were well for all parties if they could
get Miss Julia off from Brown Hall, as there was reason to fear she
was coming out a little too fast; and that if they did not get rid
of her now, she might in a short time become a card somewhat hard to
play. They consequently invited a squireen of three or four hundred
a year to the house, who had rather unequivocally expressed his
admiration for Di Vernon; and under the fostering auspices of father
and brother, the two soon made up matters together, though the
lady was unable to follow her prototype's example, by wooing her
lover over the pages of Dante. However, though Dante was wanting,
opportunity was not, which for one so well inclined as Miss Julia
was sufficient; and before the young gentleman had been three weeks
in the house, Fred was enabled to hint to him one day, as he was
pulling off his boots before dinner, that of course he presumed his
intentions to his sister were honourable and explicit, now that
things had gone so far. Toby Armstrong--for such was the name of Di
Vern