waltz; but that lively measure was held to be too indecorous to be imported to Fairburn under its new _régime_. Everybody, when out of earshot of the host and hostess, was talking about the change that had taken place in this respect. "How odd this all seems," quoth Squire Broadacres to his neighbour, Mr. Flinthert, heir of the late lamented admiral. "None of _us_, I suppose, have been at the Hall here for this quarter of a century." "Ay, that at least," quoth the other. "Of course, it is a great matter to see people in the Heaths' position properly conducted as to morals. But I doubt whether this young fellow may not go astray in another and even a still more dangerous direction. They say his politics are, dear me, shocking." "Not a bit of it," replied Mr. Broadacres. "It isn't in the Heath blood to be radical. But his wife, she rules the roost, you see--and a devilish pretty woman too; I could find it in my heart to forgive her anything." "But that fellow, Harvey Gerard, her father--why, he's a downright _sans-culotte_, sir." "The Gerards are bound to be, my dear sir," returned the jolly squire. "All these things are a question of family; it's nothing but that. I am told there is some French blood in him." "We want nothing of that sort down in Midshire," responded Mr. Flinthert, shaking his head. "But we have got it, you see, my friend, and therefore we must make the best of it. It was all very well to ignore Gerard while he was a new-comer at the Dovecot, although, mind you, he was always a gentleman, every inch of him, notwithstanding his queer opinions; but now that he is become so nearly connected with Sir Marmaduke, and living at the Hall half his time, why, the county must make up its mind to receive him." "I shall let him perceive, however, that it does so--so far at least as I am concerned--upon sufferance, and, as it were--what is the word?--ay, vicariously." "Very good," observed Mr. Broadacres, dryly. "I am not quite clear as to your meaning; but if you intend to put Harvey Gerard down, I do not think you will meet with any very triumphant success. Why, Sir Massingberd here, who would have grappled with the devil, was tripped up and thrown by this man with the greatest ease." "Nevertheless, I shall give him the cold shoulder," observed Mr. Flinthert, stiffly; "although I shall studiously avoid being rude." "Faith, I would recommend your doing that, my friend," laughed the jolly Squire. "If you turned your back upon Harvey Gerard instead of your shoulder, my belief is that he'd kick you." "That he'd do what?" exclaimed Mr. Barnardistone Flinthert, late high-sheriff and present magistrate and _custos rotulorum_ of Midshire.