Ah! England was an important place in those days." I was getting nettled, and said: "What you mean is that you de-cockneyised the place, and sent the damned flunkies packing, and that everybody can live comfortably and happily, and not a few damned thieves only, who were centres of vulgarity and corruption wherever they were, and who, as to this lovely river, destroyed its beauty morally, and had almost destroyed it physically, when they were thrown out of it." There was silence after this outburst, which for the life of me I could not help, remembering how I had suffered from cockneyism and its cause on those same waters of old time.

But at last the old man said, quite coolly: "My dear guest, I really don't know what you mean by either cockneys, or flunkies, or thieves, or damned; or how only a few people could live happily and comfortably in a wealthy country.

All I can see is that you are angry, and I fear with me: so if you like we will change the subject." I thought this kind and hospitable in him, considering his obstinacy about his theory; and hastened to say that I did not mean to be angry, only emphatic.

He bowed gravely, and I thought the storm was over, when suddenly Ellen broke in: "Grandfather, our guest is reticent from courtesy; but really what he has in his mind to say to you ought to be said; so as I know pretty well what it is, I will say it for him: for as you know, I have been taught these things by people who--" "Yes," said the old man, "by the sage of Bloomsbury, and others." "O," said Dick, "so you know my old kinsman Hammond ?" "Yes," said she, "and other people too, as my grandfather says, and they have taught me things: and this is the upshot of it.

We live in a little house now, not because we have nothing grander to do than working in the fields, but because we please; for if we liked, we could go and live in a big house amongst pleasant companions." Grumbled the old man: "Just so! As if I would live amongst those conceited fellows; all of them looking down upon me!" She smiled on him kindly, but went on as if he had not spoken.