Since then Dr.Thorne had done his duty well as a country gentleman,--not, however, without some little want of smoothness between him and the duke's people.
Chaldicotes lay next to the duke's territory, and the duke had wished to buy Chaldicotes.

When Chaldicotes slipped through the duke's fingers and went into the hands of Dr.Thorne,--or of Dr.Thorne's wife,--the duke had been very angry with Mr.Fothergill.Hence it had come to pass that there had not always been smoothness between the duke's people and the Chaldicotes people.

It was now rumoured that Dr.Thorne intended to stand for the county on the next vacancy, and that did not tend to make things smoother.

On the right hand of Lord Lufton sat Lord George and Mr.Fothergill, and beyond Mr.Fothergill sat Mr.Walker, and beyond Mr.Walker sat Mr.Walker's clerk.

On the left hand of the chairman were Dr.Tempest and Dr.Thorne, and a little lower down was Mr.Zachary Winthrop, who held the situation of clerk to the magistrates.