g upon one. First, he had thought of
lodgings; next he went to see a small, pretty new house that had just
been built close to the Misses West. "It is too small for you, Mr. Jan,"
had observed Miss Deborah.

"It will hold me and my assistant, and the boy, and a cook, and the
surgery," answered Jan. "And that's all I want."

Neither the lodgings, however, nor the small house had been taken; and
now it was rumoured than Jan's plans were changed again. The report ran
that the surgery was to remain where it was, and that the assistant, a
gentleman of rather mature age, would remain with it; occupying Jan's
bedroom (which had been renovated after the explosion of Master Cheese),
and taking his meals with the Misses West: Jan meanwhile being about
that tasty mansion called Belvedere House, which was situated midway
between his old residence and Deerham Court. Deerham's curiosity was
uncommonly excited on the point. What, in the name of improbability,
could plain Jan Verner want with a fine place like that? He'd have to
keep five or six servants, if he went there. The most feasible surmise
that could be arrived at was, that Jan was about to establish a
mad-house--as Deerham was in the habit of phrasing a receptacle for
insane patients--of the private, genteel order. Deerham felt _very_
curious; and Jan, being a person whom they felt at ease to question
without ceremony, was besieged upon the subject. Jan's answer (all they
could get from him this time) was--that he _was_ thinking of taking
Belvedere House, but had no intention yet of setting up a mad-house. And
affairs were in this stage at the present time.

Lionel and his bride were expected momentarily, and the company of all
grades formed themselves into groups as they awaited them. They had
been married in London some ten days ago, where Sir Henry Tempest had
remained, after quitting Deerham with Lucy. The twelvemonth had been
allowed to go by consequent to the death of Sibylla. Lionel liked that
all things should be done decorously and in order. Sir Henry was now on
a visit to Sir Edmund Hautley and Decima: he was looking out for a
suitable residence in the neighbourhood, where he meant to settle. This
gathering at Verner's Pride to welcome Lionel, had been a thought of Sir
Henry's and old Mr. Bitterworth's. "Why not give the poor an afternoon's
holiday for once?" cried Sir Henry. "I will repay them the wages they
must lose in taking it." And so--here was the gathering