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 Ffolliots–with whom we were not indeed on speaking terms, but who were certainly our cousins–a distinct breath of relief was followed by a gush of mild cordiality.