in my
shop--No. 193, Main Street, Lymport--and a gentleman came in to order
his outfit. I received his directions, when suddenly he started back,
stared at me, and exclaimed:

'My dear Marquis! I trust you will pardon me for having addressed
you with so much familiarity.' I recognized in him one of my Bath
acquaintances. That circumstance, ladies and gentlemen, has been a
lesson to me. Since that time I have never allowed a false impression
with regard to my position to exist. I desire," says Mel, smiling, "to
have my exact measure taken everywhere; and if the Michaelmas bird is to
be associated with me, I am sure I have no objection; all I can say is,
that I cannot justify it by letters patent of nobility." That's how Mel
put it. Do you think they thought worse of him? I warrant you he came
out of it in flying colours. Gentlefolks like straight-forwardness in
their inferiors--that's what they do. Ah!' said Kilne, meditatively,
'I see him now, walking across the street in the moonlight, after he 'd
told me that. A fine figure of a man! and there ain't many Marquises to
match him.'

To this Barnes and Grossby, not insensible to the merits of the recital
they had just given ear to, agreed. And with a common voice of praise in
the mouths of his creditors, the dead man's requiem was sounded.

CHAPTER II. THE HERITAGE OF THE SON

Toward evening, a carriage drove up to the door of the muted house, and
the card of Lady Racial, bearing a hurried line in pencil, was handed to
the widow.

It was when you looked upon her that you began to comprehend how great
was the personal splendour of the husband who could eclipse such a
woman. Mrs. Harrington was a tall and a stately dame. Dressed in the
high waists of the matrons of that period, with a light shawl drawn
close over her shoulders and bosom, she carried her head well; and her
pale firm features, with the cast of immediate affliction on them, had
much dignity: dignity of an unrelenting physical order, which need not
express any remarkable pride of spirit. The family gossips who, on both
sides, were vain of this rare couple, and would always descant on their
beauty, even when they had occasion to slander their characters, said,
to distinguish them, that Henrietta Maria had a Port, and Melchisedec a
Presence: and that the union of a Port and a Presence, and such a Port
and such a Presence, was so uncommon, that you might search England
through and you would not find a