The Squire's jovial friends used for the most part strange conveyances, such as tandems and randoms, and the great flower-beds in the lawn in front gave sign that some such equipage had been lately driven up not altogether with dexterity.

It is difficult at all times to drive "unicorn," and more so if the horses are not used to that method of progression, and still more so if the charioteer is somewhat inebriated; and all these conditions had been fulfilled a few minutes previously in the case of Mr.Frederick Chandos, a young gentleman of twenty-one years of age, but of varied experience, who had just arrived that day on his first visit.

But when Yorke appeared at the front-door, there was no less attention paid to him than if he had driven up with four-in-hand.

Obsequious footmen assisted him to take off his wrappers in the great hall, whose vastness dwarfed the billiard-table in its centre to bagatelle proportions.

A profusion of wax-lights--and no others were permitted at Crompton, save in the servants' offices--showed eight shining pillars of rare marble, and a grand staircase broad enough for a coach-and-four, and up which, indeed, Carew _had_ ridden horses for a wager; while all the walls were hung with huge-figured tapestry--"The Tent of Darius" and "The Entry of Alexander into Babylon," both miracles of patient art.