the encumbrance--and reaped her reward. Susan was no longer
distinguished as the sister who had her dresses made in Paris; and Mrs.
Gallilee was not now subjected to the indignity of getting a lift in
Lady Northlake's carriage.

What was the history of Robert, during this interval of time? In two
words, Robert disgraced himself.

Taking possession of his country house, the new squire was invited to
contribute towards the expense of a pack of hounds kept by subscription
in the neighbourhood, and was advised to make acquaintance with his
fellow-sportsmen by giving a hunt-breakfast. He answered very politely;
but the fact was not to be concealed--the new man refused to encourage
hunting: he thought that noble amusement stupid and cruel. For the same
reason, he refused to preserve game. A last mistake was left to make,
and he made it. After returning the rector's visit, he failed to appear
at church. No person with the smallest knowledge of the English
character, as exhibited in an English county, will fail to foresee that
Robert's residence on his estate was destined to come, sooner or later,
to an untimely end. When he had finished his sketches of the
picturesque aspects of his landed property, he disappeared. The estate
was not entailed. Old Robert--who had insisted on the minutest
formalities and details in providing for his dearly-loved wife--was
impenetrably careless about the future of his children. "My fortune has
no value now in my eyes," he said to judicious friends; "let them run
through it all, if they please. It would do them a deal of good if they
were obliged to earn their own living, like better people than
themselves." Left free to take his own way, Robert sold the estate
merely to get rid of it. With no expensive tastes, except the taste for
buying pictures, he became a richer man than ever.