. Henry; but as my worthy friend and patroness, the
late Lady--"

"Go, go, honest Brown!" said Vavasour (who desired every man's good
word), "go, and give the liqueurs to Preston. Mr. Henry is extremely
sorry that he is too unwell to see you now; and I--I have the heart of a
father for his sufferings."

Mr. Brown withdrew. "'Odious and vulgar,'" said he to himself, in
a little fury,--for Mr. Brown peculiarly valued himself on his
gentility,--"'odious and vulgar!' To think of his little lordship
uttering such shameful words! However, I will go into the steward's
room, and abuse him there. But, I suppose, I shall get no dinner in this
house,--no, not so much as a crust of bread; for while the old gentleman
is launching out into such prodigious expenses on a great scale,--making
heathenish temples, and spoiling the fine old house with his new picture
gallery and nonsense,--he is so close in small matters, that I warrant
not a candle-end escapes him; griping and pinching and squeezing with
one hand, and scattering money, as if it were dirt, with the other,--and
all for that cross, ugly, deformed, little whippersnapper of a son.
'Odious and vulgar,' indeed! What shocking language! Mr. Algernon
Mordaunt would never have made use of such words, I know. And, bless me,
now I think of it, I wonder where that poor gentleman is. The young heir
here is not long for this world, I can see; and who knows but what Mr.
Algernon may be in great distress; and I am sure, as far as four hundred
pounds, or even a thousand, go, I would not mind lending it him, only
upon the post-obits of Squire Vavasour and his hopeful. I like doing a
kind thing; and Mr. Algernon was always very good to me; and I am sure
I don't care about the security, though I think it will be as sure as
sixpence; for the old gentleman must be past sixty, and the young one is
the worse life of the two. And when he's gone, what relation so near as
Mr. Algernon? We should help one another; it is but one's duty: and
if he is in great distress he would not mind a handsome premium. Well,
nobody can say Morris Brown is not as charitable as the best Christian
breathing; and, as the late Lady Waddilove very justly observed, 'Brown,
believe me, a prudent risk is the surest gain!' I will lose no time in
finding the late squire out."

Muttering over these reflections, Mr. Brown took his way to the
steward's room.

CHAPTER LV.

Clar.--How, two letters?--The Lover's Prog