n at home,)
with a face, composed and serious to be sure, but yet overspread with an
expression even more bland and benignant than usual. He knew there was
not a soul among the little crowd around him that did not really love
him, and that did not know how heartily he returned their love. All eyes
were of course on the squire's pew. Mrs. Aubrey was looking well--her
daughter and daughter-in-law were thought by all to be by far the most
beautiful women in the world--what must people think of them in London?
Mr. Aubrey looked, they thought, pleased and happy, but rather paler,
and even a little thinner; and as for the "_little_ squire," with his
bright eyes, his rosy cheeks, his arch smile, his curling auburn
hair--and so like his father and mother--he was the pride of Yatton!

Dr. Tatham read prayers, as he always did; with great distinctness and
deliberation, so that everybody in the church, young and old, could
catch every syllable; and he preached, considerately enough, a very
short sermon--pithy, homely, and affectionate. He reminded them that he
was then preaching his thirty-first Christmas-day sermon from that
pulpit! The service and the sacrament over, none of the congregation
moved from their places till the occupants of the squire's pew had
quitted it; but as soon as they had got outside of the door, the good
people poured out after them, and almost lined the way from the church
door to the gate at which the carriage stood, receiving and answering a
hundred kind inquiries concerning themselves, their families, and their
circumstances.

Mr. Aubrey stayed behind, desirous of taking another little ramble with
Dr. Tatham through the village, for the day was indeed bright and
beautiful, and the occasion inspiriting. There was not a villager within
four or five miles of the Hall who did not sit down that day to a
comfortable little relishing dinner, at least one-third of them being
indebted for it directly to the bounty of the Aubreys. As soon as Dr.
Tatham had taken off his gown, he accompanied Mr. Aubrey in cheerful
mood, in the briskest spirits. 'T was delightful to see the smoke come
curling out of every chimney, while few folk were visible out of doors;
whence you reasonably concluded that they were all housed, and preparing
for, or partaking of, their roast-beef and plum-pudding! Now and then
the bustling wife would show her heated red face at the door, and
hastily courtesy as they passed, then returning to dis