“Mr. Smith is a very excellent man,” said a friend of mine one day in conversation to Mr. Pepper.
“Yes, he may be,” said Pepper in an indifferent way; “but perhaps you don’t know him as well as I do.”
“What a noble gift of Lord Hill to the town of Shenton, that park of one thousand acres!”
“True, it was; but what were his motives in its bestowment? Did he not expect to gain more than its value in certain ways that I need not mention?”
“How sad that the family of Hobson have come into such circumstances.”
“It is only a judgment upon them for the old man’s sins.”
“Have you heard that young Dumas has entered the ministry?”
“Yes, and what for? Only for the loaves and fishes.”
“What a kind Providence it was that provided so suitably for widow Bonsor and her family.”
“Providence, indeed! Was it not rather the benevolence of Mr. Lord and his friend Squance?”