7
"There is (said George) a singular concidence in your dream with the music you heard; we will take a ramble to the Abbey this evening and should there be in the old Aisle a tomb resembling that in your dream, I think we should relate the whole circumstance to Sir James. Murder (added the youth) is a crime beyond all other offensive to God; and if, in our drys, he display a miracle, I can conceive nothing more likely to occasion his interference than the detection of so foul a crime."
At dinner they joined a numerous circle of the neigbouring gentry. It was the custom of Sir James to invite them all without exception once a year. At other times he indulged himself in a selection according to his taste. On this occasion he relinquished his prejudices, and there were at his table, individual of as various a cast as a circuit of ten miles round contained. Among those visitors, was one most opposite to the Knight in his principles and manners; Mr. Mental was supposed to be equally averse from all kings and all religions. His dress and figure were the most singular to be imagined. He was of a large make, but thin; his face pale, his hair black, and cropped short in his neck; his dress always the same, a suit of plain brown cloth. He would eat nothing that had ever enjoyed life: nothing in which sugar was an ingredient; and his drink was water. He never smiled, and the only pleasure he appeared to enjoy, was the triumph of argument. The evils of society were his dearest topic, and the claim
