which lifted its ivy-covered tower above the venerable oaks and yews
that were coeval with its existence.

In proportion to their valueless existence was the pride of the
Hurdlestone family. Their wealth gained for them the respect of the
world; their ancient name the respect of those who place an undue
importance on such things; and their own vanity and self-importance
maintained the rank and consequence which they derived from these
adventitious claims.

Squire Hurdlestone the elder was a shrewd worldly minded man, whose
natural _hauteur_ concealed from common observers the paucity of his
intellect. His good qualities were confined to his love of Church and
State; and to do him justice, in this respect he was a loyal man and
true--the dread of every hapless Jacobite in the country. In his early
days he had fought under the banners of the Duke of Cumberland as a
gentleman volunteer; and had received the public thanks of that worthy
for the courage he displayed at the memorable battle of Culloden, and
for the activity and zeal with which he afterwards assisted in
apprehending certain gentlemen in his own neighborhood, who were
suspected of secretly befriending the unfortunate cause. At every public
meeting the Squire was eloquent in his own praise.

"Who can doubt _my_ patriotism, _my_ loyalty?" he would exclaim. "I did
not confine my sentiments upon the subject to mere words. I showed by my
deeds, gentlemen, what those sentiments were. I took an active part in
suppressing the rebellion, and restoring peace to these realms. And what
did I obtain, gentlemen?--the thanks--yes, gentlemen, the public thanks
of the noble Duke!" He would then resume his seat, amidst the plaudits
of his time-serving friends, who, judging the rich man by his own