"Those hardened wretches have such a great deal to say," mumbled the Bishop sourly.
"True!" said Mauleverer; "a religious rogue would have had some bowels for the state of the church esurient!"
"Is it really true, Mauleverer," asked the Earl of
, "that Brandon is to be Chancellor of the Exchequer—very unusual in his station, is it not?""Mansfield's a precedent, I fancy!" said Mauleverer. "God! how hungry I am!"
A groan from the Bishop echoed the complaint.
"I suppose it would be against all decorum to sit down to dinner without him?" said Lord
."Why, really, I fear so," returned Mauleverer. "But our health—our health is at stake: we will only wait five minutes more. By Jove, there's the carriage! I beg your pardon for my heathen oath, my Lord Bishop."
"I forgive you!" said the good Bishop, smiling.
The party thus engaged in colloquy were stationed at a window opening on the gravel road, along which the Judge's carriage was now seen rapidly approaching; this window was but a few yards from the porch, and had been partially