l, they
were chiefly dull youths who with infinite difficulty had been taught
what changes they knew by rote and had very little idea of ringing by
scientific rule. Moreover Mr. Boosey was liberal in the matter of beer
that day and the effect of each successive can that was taken up the
stairs of the old tower was immediately apparent to every one within
hearing, that is to say as far as five miles around.

The estate was out of Chancery at last. For forty years, ever since the
death of the old squire, no one had rightfully called the Hall his own.
The heir had lived abroad, and had lived in such an exceedingly eccentric
manner as to give ground for a suit _de lunatico inquirendo_, brought by
another heir. With the consistency of judicial purpose which
characterises such proceedings the courts appeared to have decided that
though the natural possessor, the eccentric individual who lived abroad,
was too mad to be left in actual possession, he was not mad enough to
justify actual possession in the person of the next of kin. Proceedings
continued, fees were paid, a certain legal personage already mentioned
came down from time to time and looked over the estate, but the matter
was not finally settled until the eccentric individual died, after forty
years of eccentricity, to the infinite relief and satisfaction of all
parties and especially of his lawful successor Charles James Juxon now,
at last, "of Billingsfield Hall, in the county of Essex, Esquire."

In due time also Mr. Juxon appeared. It was natural that he should come
to see the vicar, and as it happened that he called late in the afternoon
upon the day when Mrs. Goddard and little Eleanor were accustomed to dine
at the vicarage, he at once had an opportunity of making the acquaintance
of his tenant; thus, if we except the free-thinking doctor, it will be
seen that Mr. Juxon was in the course of five minutes introduced to the
whole of the Billingsfield society.

He was a man inclining towards middle age, of an active and vigorous
body, of a moderate intelligence and of decidedly prepossessing
appearance. His features were of the strong, square type, common to men
whose fathers for many generations have lived in the country. His eyes
were small, blue and very bright, and to judge from the lines in his
sunburned face he was a man who laughed often and heartily. He had an
abundance of short brown hair, parted very far upon one side and brushed
to a phenomenal smoothne