ure
mistress of Buston. The step to be taken by their master was not
popular in the Buston kitchen. It had been there considered that Master
Harry was to be the future master, and, by some perversity of intellect,
they had all thought that this would occur soon. Matthew was much older
than the squire, who was hardly to be called a sickly man, and yet
Matthew had made up his mind that Mr. Harry was to reign over him as
Squire of Buston. When, therefore, the tidings came that Miss
Thoroughbung was to brought to Buston as the mistress, there had been
some slight symptoms of rebellion. "They didn't want any 'Tilda
Thoroughbung there." They had their own idea of a lady and a gentleman,
which, as in all such cases, was perfectly correct. They knew the squire
to be a fool, but they believed him to be a gentleman. They heard that
Miss Thoroughbung was a clever woman, but they did not believe her to be
a lady. Matthew had said a few words to the cook as to a public-house at
Stevenage. She had told him not to be an old fool, and that he would
lose his money, but she had thought of the public-house. There had been
a mutinous feeling. Matthew helped his master out of the carriage, and
then came a revulsion. That "froth of a beer-barrel," as Matthew had
dared to call her, had absolutely refused his master.

Mr. Prosper went into the house very meditative, and sad at heart. It
was a matter almost of regret to him that it had not been as Matthew
supposed. But he was caught and bound, and must make the best of it. He
thought of all the particulars of her proposed mode of living, and
recapitulated them to himself. A pair of ponies, her own maid,
champagne, the fish-monger's bill, and Miss Tickle. Miss Puffle would
certainly not have required such expensive luxuries. Champagne and the
fish would require company for their final consumption.

The ponies assumed a tone of being quite opposed to that which he had
contemplated. He questioned with himself whether he would like Miss
Tickle as a perpetual inmate. He had, in sheer civility, expressed a
liking for Miss Tickle, but what need could there be to a married woman
of a Miss Tickle? And then he thought of the education of the five or
six children which she had almost promised him! He had suggested to
himself simply an heir,--just one heir,--so that the nefarious Harry might
be cut out. He already saw that he would not be enriched to the extent
of a shilling by the lady's income. Then the