"Farewell! farewell, my kind and dear friends, farewell!--May God bless
you all, and all your families!" said Mr. Aubrey; and, most powerfully
affected, withdrew from a scene which he was not likely ever to forget.
He retired, accompanied by Dr. Tatham, to his library; where Mr.
Griffiths, his steward, was in readiness to receive his signature to
various documents. This done, the steward, after a few hurried
expressions of affection and respect, withdrew; and Mr. Aubrey had then
completed all the arrangements, and transacted all the business, which
had required his attention before quitting Yatton: which, at an early
hour in the morning, he was going to leave; having determined to go
direct to London, instead of accepting any of the numerous offers which
he had received from his friends in the neighborhood, to take up with
them his abode for, at all events, some considerable period. That,
however, would have been entirely inconsistent with the plans for his
future life, which he had formed and matured. He left the whole estate
in admirable order and condition. There was not a farm vacant, not a
tenant dissatisfied with the terms under which he held. Every document,
all the accounts connected with the estate, after having been carefully
examined by Mr. Parkinson, and Mr. Aubrey, and Mr. Griffiths, were in
readiness for the most scrupulous and searching investigation on the
part of Mr. Aubrey's successor and his agents.
Mr. Aubrey's library was already carefully packed up, and was to follow
him, on the ensuing day, to London, by water, as also were several
portions of the furniture--the residue of which was to be sold off
within a day or two's time. How difficult--how very difficult had it
been for them to choose which articles they would part with, and which
retain! The favorite old high-backed easy-chair, which had been worked
by Miss Aubrey herself; the beautiful ebony cabinet, which had been
given by her father to her mother, who had given it to Kate; the little
chairs of Charles and Agnes--and in which Mr. Aubrey and Kate, and all
their brothers and sisters--long since deceased--had sat when children;
Mrs. Aubrey's piano; these, and a few other articles, had been
successfully pleaded for by Mrs. Aubrey and Kate, and were to accompany
or rather follow them to London, instead of passing, by the auctioneer's
hammer, into the hands of strangers. The two carriage-horses, which had
drawn old Mrs. Aubrey in the family coach for many years, were to be
turned to grass, for the rest of their days, at Lady Stratton's. Poor
old Peggy was, in like manner, to have to herself a little field
belonging to Dr. Tatham. Little Charles's pony, a beautiful animal, and
most reluctantly parted with, was sent as a present, in his name, to
little Sir Harry Oldfield, one of his play-fellows. Hector, the
magnificent Newfoundland dog, was, at the vehement instance of Pumpkin,
the gardener, who had almost gone upon his knees to beg for the animal,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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