christened Judy--plain Judy; but now that they've got into high-flown
life, you persave, nothing will sarve them but to ape their betthers.
However, never mind, I'll see the day yet, and that before long, when
saucy Judy won't refuse my assistance. Time about's fair play, you
know."

It may be observed here, that Buck English happened to forget himself,
which he almost always did whenever he became in earnest: he also forgot
his polite language and peculiar elegance of pronunciation. To a vain
and weak mind there is nothing more cutting than the consciousness of
looking mortified in the eyes of others, and under these circumstances
to feel that the laugh is against you, adds one not important item to
"the miseries of human life."

The Buck, now that the priest was at the chapel door, walked, with a
stride that very much resembled the mock-heroic, towards the place of
worship; but, in the opinion of the shrewd spectators, his dignity was
sadly tarnished by the humorous contempt implied in the practical jest
that had been so adroitly played off at his expense.




CHAPTER II.--The Proctor's Principles and His Family.

For a considerable time previous to the scene described in our last
chapter, a principle of general resistance to tithes had been deepening
in and spreading over the country. Indeed the opposition to them had,
for at least half a century before, risen up in periodical ebullitions
that were characterized by much outrage and cruelty. On this account,