ABSTRACT
On the edge of Needwood forest, and about seven and-twenty miles from the residence of Sir Maynard Ellesmere, lived in a small freehold of an hundred-and-fifty pounds a year, his younger brother, who had changed his name to that of Caverly, for an estate of which he had long since parted with the greater proportion; but he still retained enough to live comfortably, for he had the half-pay of a lieutenant added to his farm, which he occupied himself. His domestic arrangements were not unlike those of Columella;70 but with so many oddities about him as to acquire the name of a humourist, he had an excellent heart; and though he professed himself a misanthrope, much of his time, and all the money he could spare, were given to the distresses of his neighbours, by whom he was extremely beloved. Though Sir Maynard and Captain Caverly were always on the most friendly terms, he seldom went to Eddisbury-hall. He hated the forms he was expected to observe there; and though he did not express it very openly, he was disgusted by the unwarrantable partiality Sir Maynard shewed to his eldest son in preference to his other children, all of whom he thought as deserving, and Edward who was his favourite, infinitely more so. When his niece Elizabeth lost her lover, the honest Captain was so much concerned for her, that he offered to mortgage fifty pounds a year of his own little property, to assist in raising the sum that was demanded by the father of the young man; and he was continually endeavouring to represent the cruelty of sacrificing a whole family to its elder branch. It was owing to his encouragement that Edward Ellesmere assumed courage enough to declare his dislike to the law; and he had assisted him to the utmost of his power during his travels. To such an uncle it was natural for Edward to wish to pay his respects as soon as he could, after his return into Staffordshire; and at the end of ten days he set out on horseback, with D’Alonville, and at the hour of Captain Caverly’s dinner, they arrived 245at Fernhurst, which was the name of the farm where the honest veteran resided.
