"The great counsel whose eloquence is listened to with breathless attention in crowded courts, and read at every breakfast-table in England." "That is a very delightful picture of the life of a briefless barrister," said John Crewys, smiling.
"Mary," said Miss Crewys, in lowered tones of reproof, "I understood that _divorce_ cases, unhappily, occupied the greater part of our cousin John's attention." "We've heard of you, nevertheless--we've heard of you, Mr.Crewys," said the canon, nervously interposing, "even in this out-of-the-way corner of the west." "But there is one breakfast-table, at least, in England, where divorce cases are _not_ perused, and that is my brother Timothy's breakfast-table," said Lady Belstone, very distinctly.
John hastened to fill up the awkward pause which ensued, by a reference to the beauty of the hall.
"I'm afraid we don't live up to our beautiful old house," said Lady Mary, shaking her head.

"There are some lovely things stored away in the gallery upstairs, and some beautiful pictures hanging there, including the Vandyck, you know, which Charles II.

gave to old Sir Peter, your cavalier ancestor.

But the gallery is almost a lumber-room, for the floor is too unsafe to walk upon.

And down here, as you see, we are terribly Philistine." "This hall was furnished by my grandmother for her son's marriage," said Miss Crewys.
"And she sent all your great-grandmother's treasures to the attics," said Lady Mary, with rather a wilful intonation.