"Whew," said the Squire, whistling, "you have not your usual senses about you to-day, man. Lenny Fairfield--pattern boy of the village. Hold your tongue. I dare say it is not done by any one in the parish, after all; some good-for-nothing vagrant--that cursed tinker, who goes about with a very vicious donkey--whom, by the way, I caught picking thistles out of the very eyes of the old stocks! Shows how the tinker brings up his donkeys! Well, keep a sharp look-out. To-day is Sunday; worst day of the week, I'm sorry and ashamed to say, for rows and depredations. Between the services, and after evening church, there are always idle fellows from all the neighbouring country about, as you know too well. Depend on it, the real culprits will be found gathering round the stocks, and will betray themselves: have your eyes, ears, and wits about you, and I've no doubt we shall come to the rights of the matter before the day's out. And if we do," added the Squire, "we'll make an example of the ruffian!" "In course," said Stirn; "and if we don't find him, we must make an example all the same. That's where it is, sir. That's why the stocks ben't respected; they has not had an example yet--we wants an example." "On my word, I believe that's very true; and the first idle fellow you catch in anything wrong we'll clap in, and keep him there for two hours at least." "With the biggest pleasure, your honour--that's what it is." And Mr Stirn, having now got what he considered a complete and unconditional authority over all the legs and wrists of Hazeldean parish, _quoad_ the stocks, took his departure. CHAPTER X. "Randal," said Mrs Leslie, on this memorable Sunday--"Randal, do you think of going to Mr Hazeldean's?" "Yes, ma'am," answered Randal. "Mr Egerton does not object to it; and as I do not return to Eton, I may have no other opportunity of seeing Frank for some time. I ought not to fail in respect to Mr Egerton's natural heir!" "Gracious me!" cried Mrs Leslie, who, like many women of her cast and kind, had a sort of worldliness in her notions, which she never evinced in her conduct--"gracious me!--natural heir to the old Leslie property!" "He is Mr Egerton's nephew, and," added Randal, ingenuously letting out his thoughts, "I am no relation to Mr Egerton at all." "But," said poor Mrs Leslie, with tears in her eyes, "it would be a shame in the man, after paying your schooling and sending you to Oxford, and having you to stay with him in the holidays, if he did not mean anything by it." "Anything, mother--yes--but not the thing you suppose. No matter. It is enough that he has armed me for life, and I shall use the weapons as seems to me best." Here the dialogue was suspended, by the entrance of the other members of the family, dressed for church. "It can't be time for church! No! it can't!" exclaimed Mrs Leslie. She was never in time for anything.