He read through a sermon after dinner, unintelligibly and even inaudibly.

At this his brother-in-law, who had an evening service in his own church, of course never was present; but Mrs.Annesley and the girls were there, and the younger children.

But Harry Annesley had absolutely declined; and his uncle having found out that he never attended the church service, although he always left the Hall with his father, made this a ground for a quarrel.

It at last came to pass that Mr.Prosper, who was jealous and irritable, would hardly speak to his nephew; but the two hundred and fifty pounds went on, with many bickerings on the subject between the parson and the squire.

Once, when the squire spoke of discontinuing it, Harry's father reminded him that the young man had been brought up in absolute idleness, in conformity with his uncle's desire.