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252 doctors, soldiers, clergymen, and ministers of state. Pitiful delusion, or rather, shameless hypocrisy!"

"It all comes of educating the poor," said the Doctor. "The moment they pretend to judge the conduct of their betters—there's an end of all order! They see nothing sacred in the laws, though we hang the dogs ever so fast; and the very peers of the land, spiritual and temporal, cease to be venerable in their eyes."

"Talking of peers," said Mrs. Slopperton, "I hear that Lord Mauleverer is to pass by this road to-night, on his way to Mauleverer Park. Do you know his Lordship, Miss Lucy? he is very intimate with your uncle."

"I have only seen him once," answered Lucy.

"Are you sure that his Lordship will come this road?" asked the stranger, carelessly: "I heard something of it this morning, but did not know it was settled."

"Oh, quite so!" rejoined Mrs. Slopperton. "His Lordship's gentleman wrote for post-horses to meet his Lordship at Wyburn, about three miles on the other side of the village, at ten o'clock