delight in estimating
things at a high rate. He was an amateur of superior phrases, and never used
poor language without immediately correcting himself - which was fortunate, as
he was rather loud, and given to predominate, standing or walking about
frequently, pulling down his waistcoat with the air of a man who is very much of
his own opinion, trimming himself rapidly with his fore-finger, and marking each
new series in these movements by a busy play with his large seals. There was
occasionally a little fierceness in his demean-our, but it was directed chiefly
against false opinion, of which there is so much to correct in the world that a
man of some reading and experience necessarily has his patience tried. He felt
that the Featherstone family generally was of limited understanding, but being a
man of the world and a public character, took everything as a matter of course,
and even went to converse with Mr. Jonah and young Cranch in the kitchen, not
doubting that he had impressed the latter greatly by his leading questions
concerning the Chalky Flats. If anybody had observed that Mr. Borthrop Trumbull,
being an auctioneer, was bound to know the nature of everything, he would have
smiled and trimmed himself silently with the sense that he came pretty near
that. On the whole, in an auctioneering way, he was an honourable man, not
ashamed of his business, and feeling that »the celebrated Peel, now Sir Robert,«
if introduced to him, would not fail to recognise his importance.
    »I don't mind if I have a slice of that ham, and a glass of that ale, Miss
Garth, if you will allow me,« he said, coming into the parlour at half-past
eleven, after having had the exceptional privilege of seeing old Featherstone,
and standing with his back to the fire between Mrs. Waule and Solomon. »It's not
necessary for you to go out; - let me ring the bell.«
    »Thank you,« said Mary, »I have an errand.«
    »Well, Mr. Trumbull, you're highly favoured,« said Mrs. Waule.
    »What, seeing the old man?« said the auctioneer, playing with his seals
dispassionately. »Ah, you see he has relied on me considerably.« Here he pressed
his lips together, and frowned meditatively.
    »Might anybody ask what their brother has been saying?« said Solomon, in a
soft tone of humility, in which he had a sense of luxurious cunning, he being a
rich man and not