In early life he had been something of a "tuft-hunter;" but as his understanding was good and his passions not very strong, he had soon perceived that that vessel of clay, a young man with a moderate fortune, cannot long sail down the same stream with the metal vessels of rich earls and extravagant dandies.

Besides, he was destined for the Church--because there was one of the finest livings in England in the family.

He therefore took orders at six and twenty; married Mrs.Leslie's daughter, who had thirty thousand pounds: and settled at the rectory of Merton, within a mile of the family seat.

He became a very respectable and extremely popular man.

He was singularly hospitable, and built a new wing--containing a large dining-room and six capital bed-rooms--to the rectory, which had now much more the appearance of a country villa than a country parsonage.