The surfaces of pools and rivers were covered with large white bubbles, which are always considered as indications of coming rain.

The dung heaps, and the pools generally attached to them, emitted a fetid and offensive smell; and the pigs were seen to carry straw into their sties, or such rude covers as had been constructed for them.
In the meantime the dinner party in Lindsay's were enjoying themselves in a spirit quite as genial as his hospitality.

It consisted of two or three country squires, a Captain Dowd--seldom sober--a pair of twin brothers, named Gumming, with a couple of half sirs--a class of persons who bore the same relation to a gentleman that a salmon-trout does to a salmon.

The Protestant clergyman of the parish was there--a jocund, rattling fellow, who loved his glass, his dog, his gun, and, if fame did not belie him, paid more devotion to his own enjoyments than he did to his Bible.

He dressed in the extreme of fashion, and was a regular dandy parson of that day.