Cowes and Cullen, who perhaps thought themselves a little neglected by the great light of the Union, there passed occasionally nods and winks, which were meant to imply much.

There were rumours of banqueting which went on at Wanley; the Manor was spoken of by some who had not seen it as little less than a palace--nay, it was declared by one or two of the shrewder tongued that a manservant in livery opened the door, a monstrous thing if true.

Worse than this was the talk which began to spread among the Hoxton and Islington Unionists of a certain young woman in a poor position to whom Mutimer had in former days engaged himself, and whom he did not now find it convenient to marry.

A few staunch friends Richard had, who made it their business stoutly to contradict the calumnies which came within their hearing, Daniel Dabbs the first of them.

But even Daniel found himself before long preferring silence to speech on the subject of Emma Vine.