parties. Sir Everhard understanding that Anthony Darnel had begun to
canvass, and was putting every iron in the fire, in violation and
contempt of the pactum familiae before mentioned, fell into a violent
passion, that brought on a severe fit of the gout; by which he was
disabled from giving personal attention to his own interest. My father,
indeed, employed all his diligence and address, and spared neither money,
time, nor constitution, till at length he drank himself into a
consumption, which was the death of him. But, after all, there is a
great difference between a steward and a principal. Mr. Darnel attended
in propria persona, flattered and caressed the women, feasted the
electors, hired mobs, made processions, and scattered about his money in
such a manner, that our friends durst hardly show their heads in public.

"At this very crisis, our young squire, to whom his father had written an
account of the transaction, arrived unexpectedly at Greavesbury Hall, and
had a long private conference with Sir Everhard. The news of his return
spread like wildfire through all that part of the country. Bonfires were
made, and the bells set a-ringing in several towns and steeples; and next
morning above seven hundred people were assembled at the gate, with
music, flags, and streamers, to welcome their young squire, and accompany
him to the borough of Ashenton. He set out on foot with his retinue, and
entered one end of the town just as Mr. Darnel's mob had come in at the
other. Both arrived about the same time at the market-place; but Mr.
Darnel, mounting first into the balcony of the town-house, made a long
speech to the people in favour of his own pretensions, not without some
invidious reflections glanced at Sir Everhard, his competitor.

"We did not much mind the acclamations of his party, which we knew had
been hired for the purpose; but we were in some pain for Mr. Greaves, who
had not been used to speak in public. He took his turn, however, in the