ounty
hunt, not that he any longer hunted himself, but that his name would
give such consequence to the thing! Miss Lucy must come to pass a week
with her dear friends the Honourable Misses Sansterre! Augustus, their
brother, had such a sweet lady's horse! In short, the customary change
which takes place in people's characters after the acquisition of a
fortune took place in the characters of Mr. and Miss Brandon; and
when people become suddenly amiable, it is no wonder that they should
suddenly gain a vast accession of friends.

But Lucy, though she had seen so little of the world, was not quite
blind; and the squire, though rather obtuse, was not quite a fool.
If they were not rude to their new visitors, they were by no means
overpowered with gratitude at their condescension. Mr. Brandon declined
subscribing to the hunt, and Miss Lucy laughed in the face of the
Honourable Augustus Sansterre. Among their new guests, however, was one
who to great knowledge of the world joined an extreme and even
brilliant polish of manners, which at least prevented deceit from
being disagreeable, if not wholly from being unseen this was the new
lieutenant of the county, Lord Mauleverer.

Though possessed of an immense property in that district, Lord
Mauleverer had hitherto resided but little on his estates. He was one
of those gay lords who are now somewhat uncommon in this country after
mature manhood is attained, who live an easy and rakish life, rather
among their parasites than their equals, and who yet, by aid of an
agreeable manner, natural talents, and a certain graceful and light
cultivation of mind (not the less pleasant for its being universally
coloured with worldliness, and an amusing rather than offensive regard
for self), never lose their legitimate station in society; who are
oracles in dress, equipages, cookery, and beauty, and, having no
character of their own, are able to fix by a single word a character
upon any one else. Thus, while Mauleverer rather lived the dissolute
life of a young nobleman, who prefers the company of agreeable demireps
to that of wearisome duchesses, than maintained the decorous state
befitting a mature age, and an immense interest in the country, he was
quite as popular at court, where he held a situation in the household,
as he was in the green-room, where he enchanted every actress on the
right side of forty. A word from him in the legitimate quarters of power
went further than an harangue