At
the judge's suggestion he named the place Earl's Court. He and
Polly were entirely satisfied with their surroundings, and never
ceased to congratulate themselves that they had left Lincoln
County. They felt that their friends the Carringtons at Belle
Plain, though untitled people, were still of an equal rank with
themselves; while as for the judge, they doubted if royalty
itself laid it any over him.
Mr. Yancy accepted his changed fortunes with philosophic
composure. Technically he filled the position of overseer at The
Oaks, but the judge's activity was so great that this position
was largely a sinecure. The most arduous work he performed was
spending his wages.
Certain trifling peculiarities survived with the judge even after
he had entered what he had once been prone to call the Portal of
Hope; for while his charity was very great and he lived with the
splendid air of plenty that belonged to an older order, it
required tact, patience, and persistence to transact business
with him; and his creditors, of whom there were always a
respectable number, discovered that he esteemed them as they were
aggressive and determined. He explained to Yancy that too great
certainty detracted from the charm of living, for, after all,
life was a game--a gamble--he desired to be reminded of this.
Yet he was held in great respect for his wisdom and learning,
which was no more questioned that his courage.
Thus surrounded by his friends, who were devoted to him, he began
Hannibal's education and the preparation of his memoirs, intended
primarily for the instruction of his grandson, and which he
modestly decided to call The History of My Own Times, which
clearly showed the magnificence of his mind and its outlook.
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