my father has that right, sir."

"Of course he has, just as he would have the right to make a ruin of the
place to-morrow if he liked it; but I don't fancy his friends would be
the better pleased with him for his amiable eccentricity: your father
pushes our regard for him very far sometimes."

"I 'll tell him to be more cautious, sir, in future," said I, moving
towards the door.

"Do so," said he. "Good-night."

I had scarcely taken my bedroom candle when I felt a hand on my
shoulder: I turned and saw Madame Cleremont standing very pale and in
great agitation at my side. "Oh, Digby," said she, "don't make that man
your enemy whatever you do; he is more than a match for you, poor
child!" She was about to say more when we heard voices in the corridor,
and she hurried away and left me.

CHAPTER XI. A BIRTHDAY DINNER

The eventful day arrived at last, and now, as I write, I can bring up
before me the whole of that morning, so full of exciting sensations
and of pleasurable surprises. I wandered about from room to room,
never sated with the splendors around me. Till then I had not seen the
gorgeous furniture uncovered, nor had I the faintest idea of the beauty
and richness of the silk hangings, or the glittering elegance of those
lustres of pure Venetian glass. Perhaps nothing, however, astonished me
so much as the array of gold and silver plate in the dining-room. Our
every-day dinners had been laid out with what had seemed to me a
most costly elegance; but what were they to this display of splendid
centrepieces and massive cups and salvers large as shields! Of flowers,
the richest and rarest, wagon-loads poured in; and at last I saw the
horses taken out, and carts full of carnations and geraniums left
unloaded in the stable-yard. Ice, too, came in the same profusion: those
squarely cut blocks, bright as crystal, and hollowed out to serve as
wine-coolers, and take their place amidst the costlier splendors of gold
and silver.

It is rare to hear the servant class reprove profusion; but here I
overheard many a comment on the reckless profligacy of outlay which had
provided for this occasion enough for a dozen such. It was easy to see,
they said, that Mr. Clere-mont did not pay; and this sneer sunk deep
into my mind, increasing the dislike I already felt for him.

Nor was it the house alone was thus splendidly prepared for reception;
but kiosks and tents were scattered through the grounds, in each of
which, as