--servant, and all that," said a voice close behind
her;--"Scratch! scratch! there you go, painting bricks as if they was
Christians, and all that."

"Sir! Are you aware this is private property. Papa would be very angry
if"----

"He heard I was here. I dassay he would, and all that--but I don't
intend to wait for him here. I'll beat up his quarters at the hall--I
will--and all that."

Miss Arabel had a profound contempt for old people and little people;
and the person who at present addressed her was both little and old.
He wore a short flaxen wig, and a spenser over a long-tailed blue
coat; grey nether habiliments, with four or five inches of a white
worsted stocking visible between his knee and his gaiter. It was a
very well-shaped leg, and the owner thereof seemed to know it.

"You will not find papa at home," said Miss Arabel. "He has gone out
to a magistrate's meeting."

"I didn't say I was going there to-day, did I?--and he don't go
justicing every day in the week, I hope. I'll see him soon, depend
on't, and make acquaintance with his young 'uns, and all that. How
many is there of you?"

"My sister and myself--if you enquire as to the number of Mr
Gillingham Howard's family," replied Miss Arabel.

"What! ha'n't ye picked up ne'er a man yet? ne'er a one on you? Is
your sister any thing like yourself?"

Miss Arabel cast a look of haughty indignation on her questioner; but
disdained a reply.

"Pr'aps you're looking out for a juke or a bernet, or some regular
nobleman, and all that--for I hear you carries all your heads uncommon
high--whereby it wouldn't be unagreeable to pull 'em down a bit, and
all that. Come, come, don't pout nor be sulky. Be friendly, young
'oman, now that we're going to be neighbours, and all that."

"Friendly, indeed!" said Miss Arabel, with a toss of her head that
would have snapped a martingale in fifty pieces. "Pray walk on, sir. I
am a lady, and papa would be very indignant at your impertinence."

"I dassay he would; but not a bit more than I have been at his'n this
many a long day. Why, I've dandled him on my knee a hundred times."

"Have you? Perhaps you were his nurse's husband, or the butler. If you
come to the servants' hall"----

"Indeed! What to do? To see fine ladies' maids give themselves airs,
and disgust people with their insolence and affectation. Much obliged
to you all the same; but when I wants to see sights like that, I'll
come into the drawing-room."

"I