A rough old buffer, isn't he ?' She was thinking of her Nic, and felt that, by comparison with her present acquaintance, the farmer more than held his own as a fine and intelligent fellow; but the harmony with her own existence in little things, which she found here, imparted an alien tinge to Nicholas just now.

The latter, idealized by moonlight, or a thousand miles of distance, was altogether a more romantic object for a woman's dream than this smart new-lacquered man; but in the sun of afternoon, and amid a surrounding company, Mr.Bellston was a very tolerable companion.
When they re-entered the hall, Bellston entreated her to come with him up a spiral stair in the thickness of the wall, leading to a passage and gallery whence they could look down upon the scene below.

The people had finished their feast, the newly-christened baby had been exhibited, and a few words having been spoken to them they began, amid a racketing of forms, to make for the greensward without, Nicholas's cousin and cousin's wife and cousin's children among the rest.

While they were filing out, a voice was heard calling--'Hullo!--here, Jim; where are you ?' said Bellston's uncle.

The young man descended, Christine following at leisure.
'Now will ye be a good fellow,' the Squire continued, 'and set them going outside in some dance or other that they know?
I'm dog-tired, and I want to have a yew words with Mr.Everard before we join 'em--hey, Everard?
They are shy till somebody starts 'em; afterwards they'll keep gwine brisk enough.' 'Ay, that they wool,' said Squire Everard.
They followed to the lawn; and here it proved that James Bellston was as shy, or rather as averse, as any of the tenantry themselves, to acting the part of fugleman.