THE Lady of the Manor. BEING A SERIES OF CONVERSATIONS ON THE SUBJECT OF CONFIRMATION. Intended for the Use of the Middle and Higher Ranks of YOUNG FEMALES. BY MRS. SHERWOOD, Author of "LITTLE HENRY AND HIS BEARER," VOLUME V. PRINTED Wellington, Salop: BY AND FOR F. HOULSTON AND SON. 1827. [Entered at Stationers' Hall.] THE LADY OF THE MANOR, &c. CHAPTER XXII. Tenth Commandment.-Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbour's House, thou shalt not covet thy Neighbour's Wife, nor his Servant, nor his Maid, nor his Ox, nor his Ass, nor any Thing that is his. "As the commandments have already engaged our attention for a considerable time," said the lady of the manor to her young people, on the evening chosen for the consideration of the tenth commandment, "I hope to close the subject this day with a narrative which I happen to have by me relative to the matter in hand. And, as most of what may be said on this subject is introduced in different parts of this story, I think it the less needful to make any remarks of my own on the question." The lady of the manor then drew forth a small manuscript from her work-bag; and, when she had read the title, a smile immediately appeared on the countenances of the young people, several of whom remarked, that they could form no idea of what kind of narrative it would be which should answer to a title so extraordinary. The lady of the manor smilingly signified, that she was ready to satisfy their curiosity in the best manner imaginaVOL. V. B ble-by reading the story, which she accordingly commenced without further delay. Rich in the Kitchen, poor in the Parlour. On the confines of Worcestershire and Herefordshire, in a neighbourhood rendered in winter almost inaccessible through the deep roads of stiff red clay, is an ancient mansion called Stanbrook Court. This building, which was from time immemorial the seat of a respectable family of the name of Vaughen, had been erected in the reign of William and Mary, and partook of that style of architecture which was fashionable in that period. The old gentleman who had entered into possession of the estate about the middle of the last century, bad, at his death, left six children, with all of whom we shall become acquainted in the course of our narrative, although the affairs of one only will engage our particular attention. Of these children, the eldest, a son, had been educated at home, and had spent the greater part of his youth in his father's stable and dog-kennel. At the period from which our narrative commences, he was more than fifty years of age, had been a widower some years, and had two sons, and as many daughters. He was generally denominated, in the country, Squire Vaughen, of Stanbrook Court, and was said to possess the best pack of fox-hounds in the county. Two maiden sisters, viz. Mrs. Dorothea and Mrs. Penelope, who were nearest in age to the Squire, kept his house, which honourable station they had held ever since the death of his wife: and though they were neither of them remarkable for their good temper, yet, as their fortunes were small, and as they enjoyed in their brother's house some conveniences which they could not expect to find elsewhere, they contrived to accommodate themselves so far to his humours, that, during the course of their long residence with him, he had never actually told them to leave his house, although he not unfrequently had dropped hints which they might have interpreted to this purpose, had it suited their convenience so to do. These ladies had all that pride and ignorance of the |