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242 the play. I was afterwards quite sorry that he was so good-natured, as he lost—(you remember I told you the story)—a very valuable watch."

"Ay, ay, I remember all about that, and so,—how long friendship lasts with some people!—Lord Mauleverer dined with William. What a fine thing it is for a man—(it is what I never did, indeed, I like being what they call 'Cock of the Walk'—let me see, now I think of it, Pillum comes to-night to play a hit at backgammon)—to make friends with a great man early in (yet Will did not do it very early, poor fellow! he struggled first with a great deal of sorrow——hardship that is——) life! It is many years now, since Will has been hand-and-glove with my ('tis a bit of a puppy) Lord Mauleverer,—what did you think of his Lordship?"

"Of Lord Mauleverer? Indeed I scarcely observed him, but he seemed a handsome man, and was very polite. Mrs. Warner said he had been a very wicked person when he was young, but he seems good-natured enough now, Papa."

"By the by," said the Squire, "his Lordship has just been made—(this new Ministry seem very