As a Man Lives

Positively every one, with two unimportant exceptions, had called upon us. The Countess had driven over from Sysington Hall, twelve miles away, with two anamic-looking daughters, who had gushed over our late roses and the cedar trees which shaded the lawn.

• The Holgates of Holgate Brand and Lady Naselton of Naselton had presented themselves on the same afternoon.
• Many others had come in their train, for what these very great people did the neighborhood was bound to endorse.

There was a little veiled anxiety, a few elaborately careless questions as to the spelling of our name; but when my father had mentioned the second f, and made a casual allusion to the Warwickshire Ffolliotswith whom we were not indeed on speaking terms, but who were certainly our cousinsa distinct breath of relief was followed by a gush of mild cordiality.