my best consideration.
As far as I am concerned, I could settle in Bucks, where I have a
small estate, with satisfaction; but my girls are enthusiastically
attached to this place. Arabel would break her heart if we took her
away from Surbridge."

"I warrant her heart against all breakage and other damages, save and
except the ordinary wear and tear--as Puff says in letting a furnished
house; and, if it only depends on the young lady, I think I'll answer
for her being more anxious for the arrangement than I am. But here's
company coming, and I must have your answer before I go."

Mr Gillingham Howard heard the carriage stop at the door. He felt it
was impossible to present so rough-mannered a man as Mr Roe to any of
his friends without a certainty of exposure, and he was strongly
tempted to agree to his demand at once, if he would immediately leave
the house; but before he had time to arrange his thoughts, the door
opened, and the Rayleighs of Borley Castle were announced.

Mr Gillingham Howard, by a great effort, received them with his usual
courtesy.

"I have brought Mr Tinter with me," said Mrs Rayleigh, "and I hope you
will let him see your family portraits. We have told him so much of
them, that he is anxious to see them himself. He is writing a
description of the private collections in the county."

Mr Tinter bowed; and Mr Gillingham Howard, with an imploring look to
Mr Roe, who sat resting his chin upon his walking-stick, professed
himself highly honoured by Mrs Rayleigh's request.

"I believe you have portraits of the Sidney family, sir," said Mr
Tinter, "as I hear from Mrs Rayleigh--you are nearly related to them;
I should like very much to compare them with the pictures at
Penshurst."

"Oh! Mr Howard says the Penshurst pictures are only copies of his,"
said Mrs Rayleigh.

"Did I, madam? Did I say all?"

"If not all, you said most of them; and also, that you had some
originals of those in your distant relation, the Duke of Norfolk's
gallery."

Mr Gillingham Howard felt that Mr Roe's appalling eye was fixed upon
him, though he did not venture to look in the direction of where he
sat.

"Mr Tinter will tell you at once which are the copies. You can do
that, Mr Tinter?"

"I can guess at the age of the picture, and the name of the painter,
if he is a master," replied Mr Tinter.

"Oh! but Mr Howard has some pictures that Sir Thomas Lawrence said
were the finest in Europe. Didn't he say so, Mr Howard