R VI.

OGDEN'S BUILDINGS.

When I came downstairs the next morning, I found Lord Erymanth at the
hall window, watching the advance of a great waggon of coal which had
stuck fast in the snow half way up the hill on which the house stood.
Harold, a much more comfortable figure in his natural costume than he
had been when made up by Eustace, was truly putting his shoulder to the
wheel, with a great lever, so that every effort aided the struggling
horses, and brought the whole nearer to its destination.

"A grand exhibition of strength," said his lordship, as the waggon was
at last over its difficulties, and Harold disappeared with it into the
back-yard; "a magnificent physical development. I never before saw
extraordinary height with proportionate size and strength."

I asked if he had ever seen anyone as tall.

"I have seen one or two men who looked equally tall, but they stooped
and were not well-proportioned, whereas your nephew has a wonderfully
fine natural carriage. What is his measure?" he added, turning to
Eustace.

"Well, really, my lord, I cannot tell; mine is six feet two and
five-sixteenths, and I much prefer it to anything so out of the way as
his, poor fellow."

The danger that he would go on to repeat his tailor's verdict "that it
was distinguished without being excessive," was averted by Harold's
entrance, and Dora interrupted the greetings by the query to her
cousin, how high he really stood; but he could not tell, and when she
unfraternally pressed to know whether it was not nice to be so much
taller than Eustace, he replied, "Not on board ship," and then he gave
the intelligence that it seemed about to thaw.

Lord Erymanth said that if so, he should try to make his way to
Mycening, and he then paid his renewed compliments on the freedom of
the calendar at the Quarter Sessions from the usual proportion of evils
at Mycening. He understood that Mr. Alison was making most
praiseworthy efforts to impede the fatal habits of intoxication that
were only too prevalent.

"I shall close five beer-houses at Christmas," said Eustace. "I look
on it as my duty, as landlord and man of property."

"Quite right. I am glad you see the matter in its right light.
Beer-shops were a well-meaning experiment started some twenty years
ago. I well remember the debate, &c."

Harold tried with all his might to listen, though I saw his chest heave
with many a suppressed yawn, and his hand under his beard, tweaki