'How daring of you! They are your uncle's.'

'O, he don't mind--I do anything here. A rough old buffer, isn't he?'

She was thinking of her Nic, and felt that, by comparison with her
present acquaintance, the farmer more than held his own as a fine and
intelligent fellow; but the harmony with her own existence in little
things, which she found here, imparted an alien tinge to Nicholas just
now. The latter, idealized by moonlight, or a thousand miles of
distance, was altogether a more romantic object for a woman's dream than
this smart new-lacquered man; but in the sun of afternoon, and amid a
surrounding company, Mr. Bellston was a very tolerable companion.

When they re-entered the hall, Bellston entreated her to come with him up
a spiral stair in the thickness of the wall, leading to a passage and
gallery whence they could look down upon the scene below. The people had
finished their feast, the newly-christened baby had been exhibited, and a
few words having been spoken to them they began, amid a racketing of
forms, to make for the greensward without, Nicholas's cousin and cousin's
wife and cousin's children among the rest. While they were filing out, a
voice was heard calling--'Hullo!--here, Jim; where are you?' said
Bellston's uncle. The young man descended, Christine following at
leisure.

'Now will ye be a good fellow,' the Squire continued, 'and set them going
outside in some dance or other that they know? I'm dog-tired, and I want
to have a yew words with Mr. Everard before we join 'em--hey, Everard?
They are shy till somebody starts 'em; afterwards they'll keep gwine
brisk enough.'