contemplate the corduroys of gaping Tom, and cry to Richard, in the very
tone of Adrian's ironic voice, "Behold your benefactor!"

Austin sat by the boy, unaware of the sublimer tumult he had stirred.
Little of it was perceptible in Richard's countenance. The lines of his
mouth were slightly drawn; his eyes hard set into the distance. He
remained thus many minutes. Finally he jumped to his legs, saying, "I'll
go at once to old Blaize and tell him."

Austin grasped his hand, and together they issued out of Daphne's Bower,
in the direction of Lobourne.




CHAPTER VIII

Farmer Blaize was not so astonished at the visit of Richard Feverel as
that young gentleman expected him to be. The farmer, seated in his easy-
chair in the little low-roofed parlour of an old-fashioned farm-house,
with a long clay pipe on the table at his elbow, and a veteran pointer at
his feet, had already given audience to three distinguished members of
the Feverel blood, who had come separately, according to their accustomed
secretiveness, and with one object. In the morning it was Sir Austin
himself. Shortly after his departure, arrived Austin Wentworth; close on
his heels, Algernon, known about Lobourne as the Captain, popular
wherever he was known. Farmer Blaize reclined m considerable elation.
He had brought these great people to a pretty low pitch. He had welcomed
them hospitably, as a British yeoman should; but not budged a foot in his
demands: not to the baronet: not to the Captain: not to good young Mr.