Llbwyddcoed were, as the squire had hinted,
rather celebrated for the beauty of the rustic
damseldom. Many, down to the lowest cottage
class, boasted respectable descent; and all,
as is noticeable in parts of the principality,
showed tokens of a haughty and independent
spirit, especially towards those who used them
with what they regarded as undue familiarity.
The manly squire approved and fostered this
feeling; and nothing was more calculated to
evoke his anger than any complaint like those
addressed to him by his anonymous
correspondents. We cannot be surprised that Mr.
Taffey, aware of this, confessed, with a reluctance
and embarrassment unusual with him, that
that there was something in the alleged grievance
that needed to be put to rights. Gentlemen
of polished aspect, with whiskers of paly
gold, shooting-coats of fashionable design, and
highly condescending manners, had discovered
picturesque beauties in the little hamlet, which
had escaped less observant visitors. A lounge
and a smoke in the immediate purlieus of
Llbwyddcoed had grown to be an apparent
necessity with the squire's male guests.
Familiarity with danger leads to contempt of it.
Despite their habitual reserve and self-respect,
the rustic belles soon began to notice, without
alarm, the Honourable Tom Castleton's singular
predilection for hollyhocks, and receive, without
resentment, my young Lord Leatherhead's
humble request for information respecting the
manufacture of goats'-milk cheese. What harm
could there possibly be in youths who, even in
depraved London, could maintain a pure and
healthy affection for hollyhocks and cheese? We
need not follow up the story pace by pace. The
curly whisker and the flattering tongue carried
the day— until, on the part of fathers, brothers,
and sweethearts, jealousy and distrust succeeded
to gratified pride. There had been one or two
serious disturbances; and it was understood,
in the village, that, among other individuals
"cautioned," my Lord Leatherhead had been
openly requested to complete his dairy education
elsewhere; whilst the Honourable Tom
Castleton was in the receipt of almost daily
invitations of a pugilistic character, which it
had become exceedingly difficult to decline.

Such was the substance of Mr. Taffey's
representations, which could scarcely have been
given in his own words, without retarding the
narrative. As he spoke, the gloom deepened on
his hearer's face, and a lurid gleam, as the squire
raised his eyes for an instant and dropped them
again, showed that a storm-burst was at hand.
He was striving against his own rising passion.

"You— you spoke of yourself, Taffey," he
said, in a stifled voice. "Let me understand
that none of these lisping jack-puddings have
insulted her— your pretty Katy, I mean?"

The smith's forehead flushed. He hesitated.

"Speak out, man!" said the squire. (An
idea seemed to flash upon, him.) "My sons!
Do they— does either of them— dare——? I
see it is so. Which?" he thundered, starting
from his chair.

His imperious tone roused the spirit of the
sturdy smith.

"Mr. Rochford, then," he shouted, in a voice
as loud as the squire's, "since you must have
it, he's dawdling and dodging about our place,
more than I and my missis like— or the girl,
either, for that matter. I was thinking of
speaking to one or t'other of you; and now
you've heerd it, why, take notice on it."

And Mr. Taifey caught up his hat from the
ground.

Nothing checks a man's passion more
effectually than the unexpectedly finding his
interlocutor in a greater passion still.

The squire grew pale and quiet, and re-seated
himself in his chair.

"Leave me now, my man. Go, my old
friend," he continued, quickly. "I will see
to this matter. There shall be no more cause
of complaint. I have known your pretty Katy
as the best-behaved, as she is the prettiest, girl
in all the county. She and I have been friends
from her cradle. Sukey Bubbs— Lady Vava-sour,
I mean— must have been Katy herself at
fifteen. No fopling that bears my name, and
is ashamed of it, shall turn her pretty head, and
torment her innocent heart, for the amusement
of an idle hour! Leave it to me."

"'Twas as precious near a blow up between
us as ever I see," thought Mr. Taffey, as he
walked home; "but I've shod'n nicely all round,
and he'll do for a while. Squire's not so wicious,
and tenderer in the mouth than he was— leastwise,
with a good hand upon him. Hallo!
School up already, wissiney?" he added, as
the little schoolmaster skipped across the road
and joined him.

"We begin betimes, you see," said Mr.
Apreece. "'Diluculo surgere,' you know."

"No great luck in going to a surgery, I
should think," remarked Mr. Taffey.

"You've arranged that matter with the
squire?" inquired the schoolmaster, with a
smile.

"What matter, wissiney?"

"About his marrying again, you know."

"We was talkin' of summot else," replied
Mr. Taffey, "but, now you speak of it——"

He stood still suddenly, and looked in the
other's face with a curious expression.

"Now I speak of it " prompted Mr.
Apreece.

"I've seen onlikelier things come to pass,"
said the smith. And they parted.

The third Portion of
HOLIDAY ROMANCE,
BY CHARLES DICKENS,
Will be published during the present month, and the
Romance will be concluded in the monthly part for April.