"No?--for I was going to observe that a young man should act like a young housekeeper--lay in his friends as the other does his cellar; and always keep up the stock--particularly pleasant men and port-wine. They improve"---- "My stock is certainly very limited," I said. "You should enlarge it at once. By the by, there are a great many new residents in this parish since I was inducted." "So I believe." "Ah, just so!--never called on them, of course--By the by, will you have any lunch?" "No, I thank you. I have never called on any of the new-comers. I don't even know their names." "That's odd! But it isn't of so much consequence now, for they are all getting bought out. By the by, would you like to see the repairs in the chancel?" "No, I thank you. Are they getting bought out?" "Not a doubt of it. All the old farms and manor-houses, which had been converted into comfortable modern dwelling-houses by the different proprietors, are nearly all in one owner's hands again--as they used to be, in ancient times, in your ancestors' hands. The whole estate nearly is reunited, and the purchaser is restoring things as much as he can to their ancient condition. He gave Mr Juffles thirty thousand pounds for the Grange about six months ago; and all the Juffles family is to be off in six weeks. By the by, you are not acquainted with the Juffleses?--they haven't been here more than five years." "No, I don't know them--are they a numerous family?" "Sons and daughters by the dozen. By the by, weren't you at college for some time?" "Yes, for a few terms. How many sons has Mr Juffles?" "Seven or eight--John, Thomas, Abraham, Alexander, George, Hookey, and another; but whether his name is Richard or Robert I don't recollect. By the by, was it Oxford or Cambridge?" "And the daughters?" I said, not attending to his question--"he has many daughters, you said, as well as sons." "Oh, seven or eight of them too--Susan, Martha, Elizabeth, a younger one, I don't recollect her name, Anne, Sophia, and some little ones. By the by, the Indian mail is very interesting--have you seen the news?" "No, I never see a newspaper. Is there a young lady among Mr Juffles's family of the pretty name of Amy?" "Amy?--Amy?--'pon my word I don't recollect. And yet I think I do. I think I have heard the governess call one of the children Amy. By the by, we have had charming weather of late." "Charming. How old is the governess?" "A young person--too young, I should say, for such a charge; seventeen, perhaps." "And you are sure you have heard her call one of them Amy?" "Yes, I think I may say I am sure. By the by, the French seem very unsteady. I admire Louis Philippe." "Is the governess pretty?" "I should say so--yes, I should say decidedly pretty. By the by, he seems inclined to dismiss M. Thiers." "Blue eyes, beautiful mouth, sweet smile, and musical voice?"