fallen into debt that it was even whispered that at times it went hard
with him to keep even the poor household he had.

Mistress Clorinda's fortunes the gentry of the neighbourhood discussed
with growing interest and curiosity. What was like to become of her
great gifts and powers in the end, if she could never show them to the
great world, and have the chance to carry her splendid wares to the
fashionable market where there were men of quality and wealth who would
be like to bid for them. She had not chosen to accept any of those who
had offered themselves so far, and it was believed that for some reason
she had held off my lord of Dunstanwolde in his suit. 'Twas evident that
he admired her greatly, and why he had not already made her his countess
was a sort of mystery which was productive of many discussions and bore
much talking over. Some said that, with all her beauty and his
admiration, he was wary and waited, and some were pleased to say that the
reason he waited was because the young lady herself contrived that he
should, it being her desire to make an open conquest of Sir John Oxon,
and show him to the world as her slave, before she made up her mind to
make even a much greater match. Some hinted that for all her
disdainfulness and haughty pride she would marry Sir John if he asked
her, but that he being as brilliant a beau as she a beauty, he was too
fond of his pleasures and his gay town life to give them up even to a
goddess who had no fortune. His own had not been a great one, and he had
squandered it magnificently, his extravagances being renowned in the
world of fashion, and having indeed founded for him his reputation.

It was, however, still his way to accept frequent hospitalities from his
kinsman Eldershawe, and Sir Jeoffry was always rejoiced enough to secure
him as his companion for a few days when he could lure him from the
dissipation of the town. At such times it never failed that Mistress