him were rickety, and there was a bias in his gait which inclined him somewhat to the left of a straight line. He occasionally gave a smart nod, as if in confirmation of some opinion, though he wa
a gray mare, who, as he rode, hummed a wandering tu
Sir John,' sa
nother pace or two, hal
on this road about this time, and I zaid "Good-night"
said th
re that - near
ay h
me "Sir John" these different times, when
ode a step o
ty history. I am Parson Tringham, the antiquary, of Stagfoot Lane. Don't you really know, Durbeyfield, that you are the lineal representative of the ancient and knightly family of
rd it befo
part of England; their names appear in the Pipe Rolls in the time of King Stephen. In the reign of King John one of them was rich enough to give a manor to the Knights Hospitallers; and in Edward the Second's time your forefather Brian was summoned to Westminster to attend the great Council there. You declined a little in Oliver Cromwell's
n't sa
ly smacking his leg with his switch, `ther
ut, year after year, from pillar to post, as if I was no more than the commonest fell
igations had begun on a day in the preceding spring when, having been engaged in tracing the vicissitudes of the d'Urberville family, he had observed
mation,' said he. `However, our impulses are too strong for our judgment s
keep only one. I've got a wold silver spoon, and a wold graven seal at home, too; but, Lord, what's a spoon and seal?... And to think that I and these noble d'Urbervilles were one flesh all the time. 'T
ere. You are extinct
t's
onicles call extinct in the male line
ere do w
ows of you in your vaults, with your ef
r family mansion
aven't
lands ne
merous branches. In this county there was a seat of yours at Kingsbere, and another at
ver come into o
at I can
about it, sir?' asked Du
n". It is a fact of some interest to the local historian and genealogist, nothing more. There
ngth o't, Pa'son Tringham? There's a very pretty brew in tap at T
h already.' Concluding thus the parson rode on his way, with dou
depositing his basket before him. In a few minutes a youth appeared in the distance, walking in the same direction as that wh
sket! I want'ee to go
, John Durbeyfield, to order me about and call me
don't mind telling you that the secret is that I'm one of a noble race - it has been just found out by me this present afternoon P.M.' And as
field, and contemplated his
hat is if knights were baronets - which they be. 'Tis recorded in history
n there to Gre
church of that
wise 'twaddn' when I was there--'twas a
my ancestors - hundreds of 'em - in coats of mail and Jewels, in gr't lead coffins weighing tons and tons. Th
h?
me hwome. And in the bottom o' the carriage they be to put a noggin o' rum in a small bottle, and chalk it up to my account. And when you've done that goo on
d put his hand in his pocket, and produced a shill
r your lab
in the young man's es
ee. Anything else I can
lamb's fry if they can get it; and if they can't, black-po
Sir
et out the notes of a brass band were h
d Durbeyfield. `No
ing, Sir John. Why, your da
things! Well, vamp on to Marlott, will ye, and order that
evening sun. Not a soul passed that way for a long while, and the faint note