“Good morning, Mr Darnley, I am glad to see you. So you find us both at our books--one at law, and the other at gospel. By the way, did you ever read the Newgate Calendar? It is the most entertaining book I ever read.” Mr Darnley did not make a full and immediate reply to all that the worthy baronet said; but merely returned his greeting, and then addressed himself to Lady Aimwell, and expressed a hope that her ladyship was not the worse for her alarm on the preceding day. This hope thus expressed, and this allusion to the transgression of Miss Glossop, was designed by Mr Darnley as a very, very gentle hint to Sir George Aimwell. For the worthy rector of Neverden could not think of going farther in the way of reproof than merely by an indefinite hint, which the great man might or might not apply, according as might suit his convenience or taste. The baronet however, whether regarding it as a rebuke or not, immediately directed his conversation to Mr Darnley on that topic, and said, “Ay, this is an unpleasant affair, this elopement; it would have been better and more regular if Lord Spoonbill had proceeded in the ordinary mode of courtship and arrangement; but his lordship, you know, is peculiarly situated. I mentioned the subject to Colonel Crop, and he satisfied me that it was absolutely impossible, under existing circumstances, that any other steps could be taken.” “But are you quite sure, Sir George, that Lord Spoonbill will marry the young woman? Has not Miss Glossop placed herself in a very awkward situation by this proceeding?” “Marry her!” replied the baronet; “to be sure he will. I told the colonel that I would have no negociations on any other ground.” At this information Mr Darnley started, and was actually astonished beyond his ordinary powers of self-government; and forgetting for a moment the dignity of baronet and magistrate, he directed a look of a reproachful character towards the unpaid one, and exclaimed, “Surely, Sir George, you would never suffer Colonel Crop to enter your house a second time after suggesting in your hearing any other ground of negociation?” “I believe,” said the baronet with very great composure, “that the colonel was not aware that there was any relationship in the case between my family and that of the young lady.” The virtuous indignation of Mr Darnley was more strongly excited; but his recollection came to his aid, and he subdued his anger as well as he could; but was most heartily disgusted with the low-mindedness of the magistrate, when he replied in answer to some more observations, “Ay, ay, you gentlemen of the cloth have nicer notions of morality than men of the world.”