customs fell into disuse。 The Lords of the Manor； indeed； still held courts for form's sake； but they or their stewards had the whole management of affairs。 They demanded services； duties； and customs to which they had no just title。 Nay； they would often bring actions against their neighbours for their own private advantage； and then send in the bill to the parish。 No objection was made； during many years； to these proceedings； so that the rates became heavier and heavier： nor was any person exempted from these demands； except the footmen and gamekeepers of the squire and the rector of the parish。 They indeed were never checked in any excess。 They would come to an honest labourer's cottage； eat his pancakes； tuck his fowls into their pockets； and cane the poor man himself。 If he went up to the great house to complain； it was hard to get the speech of Sir Lewis； and； indeed； his only chance of being righted was to coax the squire's pretty housekeeper； who could do what she pleased with her master。 If he ventured to intrude upon the Lord of the Manor without this precaution； he gained nothing by his pains。 Sir Lewis； indeed； would at first receive him with a civil face； for； to give him his due； he could be a fine gentleman when he pleased。 〃Good day； my friend；〃 he would say； 〃what situation have you in my family？〃 〃Bless your honour！〃 says the poor fellow； 〃I am not one of your honour's servants； I rent a small piece of ground； your honour。〃 〃Then； you dog；〃 quoth the squire； 〃what do you mean by coming here？ Has a gentleman nothing to do but to hear the complaints of clowns？ Here！ Philip； James； Dick； toss this fellow in a blanket； or duck him； and set him in the stocks to dry。〃
One of these precious Lords of the Manor enclosed a deer…park； and； in order to stock it； he seized all the pretty pet fawns that his tenants had brought up； without paying them a farthing； or asking their leave。 It was a sad day for the parish of St Dennis。 Indeed； I do not believe that all his oppressive exactions and long bills enraged the poor tenants so much as this cruel measure。
Yet for a long time； in spite of all these inconveniences； St Dennis's was a very pleasant place。 The people could not refrain from capering if they heard the sound of a fiddle。 And； if they were inclined to be riotous； Sir Lewis had only to send for Punch； or the dancing dogs； and all was quiet again。 But this could not last forever； they began to think more and more of their condition； and； at last； a club of foul…mouthed； good…for… nothing rascals was held at the sign of the Devil； for the purpose of abusing the squire and the parson。 The doctor； to own the truth； was old and indolent； extremely fat and greedy。 He had not preached a tolerable sermon for a long time。 The squire was still worse； so that； partly by truth and partly by falsehood； the club set the whole parish against their superiors。 The boys scrawled caricatures of the clergyman upon the church… door； and shot at the landlord with pop…guns as he rode a… hunting。 It was even whispered about that the Lord of the Manor had no right to his estate； and that； if he were compelled to produce the original title…deeds； it would be found that he only held the estate in trust for the inhabitants of the parish。
In the meantime the squire was pressed more and more for money。 The parish could pay no more。 The rector refused to lend a farthing。 The Jews were clamorous for their money； and the landlord had no other resource than to call together the inhabitants of the parish； and to request their assistance。 They now attacked him furiously about their grievances； and insisted that he should relinquish his oppressive powers。 They insisted that his footmen should be kept in order； that the parson should pay his share of the rates； that the children of the parish should be allowed to fish in the trout…stream； and to gather blackberries in the hedges。 They at last went so far as to demand that he should acknowledge that he held his estate only in trust for them。 His distress compelled him to submit。 They； in return； agreed to set him free from his pecuniary difficulties； and to suffer him to inhabit the manor…house； and only annoyed him from time to time by singing impudent ballads under his window。
The neighbouring gentlefolks did not look on these proceedings with much complacency。 It is true that Sir Lewis and his ancestors had plagued them with law…suits； and affronted them at county meetings。 Still they preferred the insolence of a gentleman to that of the rabble； and felt some uneasiness lest the example should infect their own tenants。
A large party of them met at the house of Lord Caesar Germain。 Lord Caesar was the proudest man in the county。 His family was very ancient and illustrious； though not particularly opulent。 He had invited most of his wealthy neighbours。 There was Mrs Kitty North； the relict of poor Squire Peter； respecting whom the coroner's jury had found a verdict of accidental death； but whose fate had nevertheless excited strange whispers in the neighbourhood。 There was Squire Don； the owner of the great West Indian property； who was not so rich as he had formerly been； but still retained his pride； and kept up his customary pomp； so that he had plenty of plate but no breeches。 There was Squire Von Blunderbussen； who had succeeded to the estates of his uncle； old Colonel Frederic Von Blunderbussen； of the hussars。 The colonel was a very singular old fellow； he used to learn a page of Chambaud's grammar； and to translate Telemaque； every morning； and he kept six French masters to teach him to parleyvoo。 Nevertheless he was a shrewd clever man； and improved his estate with so much care； sometimes by honest and sometimes by dishonest means； that he left a very pretty property to his nephew。
Lord Caesar poured out a glass of Tokay for Mrs Kitty。 〃Your health； my dear madam； I never saw you look more charming。 Pray； what think you of these doings at St Dennis's？〃
〃Fine doings； indeed！〃 interrupted Von Blunderbussen； 〃I wish that we had my old uncle alive； he would have had some of them up to the halberts。 He knew how to usa cat…o'…nine…tails。 If things go on in this way； a gentleman will not be able to horsewhip an impudent farmer； or to say a civil word to a milk… maid。〃
〃Indeed； it's very true； Sir；〃 said Mrs Kitty； 〃their insolence is intolerable。 Look at me； for instance：a poor lone woman！ My dear Peter dead！ I loved him：so I did； and； when he died； I was so hysterical you cannot think。 And now I cannot lean on the arm of a decent footman； or take a walk with a tall grenadier behind me； just to protect me from audacious vagabonds； but they must have their nauseous suspicions；odious creatures！〃
〃This must be stopped；〃 replied Lord Caesar。 〃We ought to contribute to support my poor brother…in…law against these rascals。 I will write to Squire Guelf on this subject by this night's post。 His name is always at the head of our county subscriptions。〃
If the people of St Dennis's had been angry before； they were well…nigh mad when they heard of this conversation。 The whole parish ran to the manor…house。 Sir Lewis's Swiss porter shut the door against them； but they broke in and knocked him on the head for his impudence。 They then seized the Squire； hooted at him； pelted him； ducked him； and carried him to the watch…house。 They turned the rector into the street； burnt his wig and band； and sold the church…plate by auction。 They put up a painted Jezebel in the pulpit to preach。 They scratched out the texts which were written round the church； and scribbled profane scraps of songs and plays in their place。 They set the organ playing to pot… house tunes。 Instead of being decently asked in church； they were married over a broomstick。 But； of all their whims； the use of the new patent steel…traps was the most remarkable。
This trap was constructed on a completely new principle。 It consisted of a cleaver hung in a frame like a window； when any poor wretch got in； down it came with a tremendous din； and took off his head in a twinkling。 They got the squire into one of these machines。 In order to prevent any of his partisans from getting footing in the parish； they placed traps at every corner。 It was impossible to walk through the highway at broad noon without tumbling into one or other of them。 No man could go about his business in security。 Yet so great was the hatred which the inhabitants entertained for the old family； that a few decent； honest people； who begged them to take down the steel… traps； and to put up humane man…traps in their room； were very roughly handled for their good nature。
In the meantime the neighbouring gentry undertook a suit against the parish on the behalf of Sir Lewis's heir； and applied to Squire Guelf for his assistance。
Everybody knows that Squire Guelf is more closely tied up than any gentleman in the shire。 He could； therefore； lend them no help； but he referred them to the Vestry of the Parish of St George in the Water。 These good people had long borne a grudge against their neighbours on the other side of the stream； and some mutual trespasses had lately occurred which increased their hostility。
There was an honest Irishman； a great favourite among them； who used to entertain them with raree…shows； and to exhibit a magic lantern to the children on winter evenings。 He had gone quite mad upon this subject。 Sometimes he would call out in the middle of the street〃Take care of that corner； neighbours； for the love of Heaven； keep clear of that post； there is a patent steel… trap concealed thereabouts。〃 Sometimes he would be disturbed by frightful dreams； then he would get up at dead of night； open his window and cry 〃fire；〃 till the parish was roused； and the engines sent for。 The pulpit of the Parish of St George seemed likely to fall； I believe that the only reason was that the parson had grown too fat and heavy； but nothing would persuade this honest man but that it was a scheme of the people at St Dennis's； and that they had sawed through the pillars in order to break the rector's neck。 Once he went about with a knife in his pocket； and told all the persons whom he met that it had been sha