at your painful
situation in an old country-gentleman's house, which has not for
centuries offered scenes fit for the presence of so distinguished a
guest,--never, I may say, since the time when Sir Charles de Brandon
entertained Elizabeth at Warlock, and your ancestor (you know my old
musty studies on those points of obscure antiquity), John Mauleverer,
who was a noted goldsmith of London, supplied the plate for the
occasion."

"Fairly retorted," said Mauleverer, smiling; for though the earl had
a great contempt for low birth set on high places in other men, he was
utterly void of pride in his own family,--"fairly retorted! But I never
meant anything else but a laugh at your brother's housekeeping,--a joke
surely permitted to a man whose own fastidiousness on these matters
is so standing a jest. But, by heavens, Brandon! to turn from these
subjects, your niece is the prettiest girl I have seen for twenty years;
and if she would forget my being the descendant of John Mauleverer, the
noted goldsmith of London, she may be Lady Mauleverer as soon as she
pleases."

"Nay, now, let us be serious, and talk of the judgeship," said Brandon,
affecting to treat the proposal as a joke.

"By the soul of Sir Charles de Brandon, I am serious!" cried the earl;
"and as a proof of it, I hope you will let me pay my respects to your
niece to-day,--not with my offer in my hand yet, for it must be a love
match on both sides." And the earl, glancing towards an opposite glass,
which reflected his attenuated but comely features beneath his velvet
nightcap trimmed with Mechlin, laughed half-triumphantly as he spoke.

A sneer just passed the lips of Brandon, and as instantly vanished,
while Mauleverer continued,--

"And as for the judgeship, dear Brandon, I advise you to accept it,
though you know best; and I do think no man will stand a fairer chance
of the chief-justiceship,--or, though it be somewhat unusual for
'common' lawyers, why not the woolsack itself? As you say, the second
son of your niece might inherit the dignity of a peerage!"

"Well, I will consider of it favourably," said Brandon; and soon
afterwards he left the nobleman to renew his broken repose.

"I can't laugh at that man," said Mauleverer to himself, as he turned
round in his bed, "though he has much that I should laugh at in another;
and, faith, there is one little matter I might well scorn him for, if I
were not a philosopher. 'T is a pretty girl, his niece, and w