But latterly this uncertainty has been put an end to through the regular attendance of young Squire Marthorne, of Marthorne House.  The Marthornes are an old family, and one of the best connected in the county, though by no means rich, and, whether it was the lack of great wealth or a want of energy, they had until recently rather dropped out of the governing circle.  When, however, the young squire, soon after his accession to the property, in the natural course of events, was nominated to the Commission of the Peace, he began to exhibit qualities calculated to bring him to the front.  He developed an aptitude for business, and at the same time showed a personal tact and judgment which seemed to promise a future very different from the previous stagnation of his family.

These qualities came first into play at the Petty Sessions, which, apart from the criminal business, is practically an informal weekly Parliament of local landowners.  Marthorne, of course, was well known to the rest long before his appearance among them as a colleague.  He had gained some reputation at college; but that had long since been forgotten in the prestige he had attained as a brilliant foxhunter.  Even in the days before his accession, when his finances were notoriously low, he had somehow contrived to ride a first-rate horse.  Everybody likes a man who rides a good horse.  At the same time there was nothing horsey about him; he was always the gentleman.  Since his succession the young squire, as he was familiarly described—­most of the others being elderly—–­had selected his horses with such skill that it was well known a very great man had noticed them, so that when he came to the Bench, young as he was, Marthorne escaped the unpleasant process of finding his level—­i.e. being thoroughly put down.

If not received quite as an equal by that assemblage of elderly gentlemen, he was made to feel that at all events they would listen to what he had to say.  That is a very great point gained.  Marthorne used his advantage with judgment.  He displayed a modesty highly commendable in a young man.  He listened, and only spoke for the purpose of acquiring information.  Nothing is so pleasing as to find a man of intelligence willingly constituting himself your pupil.  They were all anxious to teach him the business of the county, and the more he endeavoured to learn from them the cleverer they thought him.

Now, the business of the county was not very intricate; the details were innumerable, but the general drift was easy to acquire.  Much more complicated to see through were all the little personal likings, dislikings, petty spites, foibles, hobbies, secret understandings, family jars, and so forth, which really decide a man’s vote, or the scale into which he throws his influence.  There were scores of squires dotted over the county, each of whom possessed local power more or less considerable, and each of whom might perchance have private relations with men