Ithadbeenfeltvaguelywhenthenewyoungladyfrom\"Meriker\"

　　hadwalkedthroughthevillagestreet，andhaddrawnpeopletodoorsandwindowsbyhermerepassing。AfterthereturnfromLondonthesignsofactivityweresuchasmadethevillagerscatchtheirbreathsinutteringuncertainexclamations，andcausedthefeminineelementtocatchupoffspringor，draggingitbyitshand，runintoneighbours’cottagesandstandtalkingtheincrediblethingoverinloweredandratherbreathlessvoices。

　　Yettheincrediblethinginquestionwas——haditbeenseenfromthestandpointofmoreprosperousvillagers——anythingbutextraordinary。InentirelyruralplacestheCastle，theHallortheManor，theGreatHouse——inshort——stillretainssomewhatoftheoldfeudalpowertobestowbenefitsorwithholdthem。WealthandgoodwillattheManorsupplyworkandresultantcomfortinthevillageanditssurroundingholdings。PatronisedbytheGreatHousethetwoorthreesmallvillageshopsbestirthemselvesandawakentoactivity。

　　Theblacksmithswingshishammerwithrenewedspiritoverthenumerousjobsthegentry’sstables，carriagehouses，gardentools，andhouseholdrepairsgivetohim。Thecarpentermendsandmakes，thevicaragefeelsatease，realisingthatitschurchanditscharitiesdonotstandunsupported。Smallfarmersandlargerones，underarichandinterestedlandlord，thriveandareabletoholdtheirownevenagainstthetricksofwindandweather。Farmlabourersbeing，asaresult，certainofsteadyanddecentwage，trudgetoandfro，withstolidcheerfulness，knowingthatthepotboilsandthechildren’sfeetareshod。

　　SuperannuatedoldmenandwomenaresureoftheirbrothandSundaydinner，andtheirdreadoftheimpending\"Union\"

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