n dangerous."

"Indeed, Papa!" answered Lucy.

"And I say, Lucy, dear," resumed the squire, after a short pause, "there
has been (and very strange it is, too, when one considers the crowded
neighbourhood--Bless me! what times these are!) a shocking murder
committed upon (the tobacco stopper,--there it is)--think, you know,
girl,--just by Epping!--an old gentleman!"

"Dear, how shocking! By whom?"

"Ay, that's the question! The coroner's inquest has (what a blessing
it is to live in a civilized country, where a man does not die without
knowing the why and the wherefore!) sat on the body, and declared (it is
very strange, but they don't seem to have made much discovery; for why?
we knew as much before) that the body was found (it was found on the
floor, Lucy) murdered; murderer or murderers (in the bureau, which was
broken open, they found the money left quite untouched) unknown!"

Here there was again a slight pause; and passing to another side of the
paper, Mr. Brandon resumed, in a quicker tone,--"Ha! well, now this is
odd! But he's a deuced clever fellow, Lucy! That brother of mine
has (and in a very honourable manner, too, which I am sure is highly
creditable to the family, though he has not taken too much notice of me
lately,--a circumstance which, considering I am his elder brother, I am
a little angry at) distinguished himself in a speech, remarkable, the
paper says, for its great legal (I wonder, by the by, whether William
could get me that agistment-money! 't is a heavy thing to lose; but
going to law, as my poor father used to say, is like fishing for
gudgeons [not a bad little fish; we can have some for supper] with,
guineas) knowledge, as well as its splendid and overpowering (I do love
Will for keeping up the family honour; I am sure it is more than I have
done, heigh-ho!), eloquence!"

"And on what subject has he been speaking, Papa?"

"Oh, a very fine subject; what you call a (it is astonishing that
in this country there should be such a wish for taking away people's
characters, which, for my part, I don't see is a bit more entertaining
than what you are always doing,--playing with those stupid birds)
libel!"

"But is not my uncle William coming down to see us? He promised to do
so, and it made you quite happy--, Papa, for two days. I hope he will
not disappoint you; and I am sure that it is not his fault if he ever
seems to neglect you. He spoke of you to me, when I saw him, in the
kindest and m