ANNE, COUNTESS OF PEMBROKE, immediately ordered a suit to be commenced against him. After a considerable delay, caused by the intricacies Of law, the suit was given in her favour ; and the " boon hen" was delivered to her. It had, by this time, cost her about two hundred pounds, but she invited her adversary to dinner, when the first dish that appeared at table was the two legged object of contention. Drawing it towards her, she turned smilingly to her late antagonist, and said, as she helped him-" Come, Mr. Murgatroyd, let us now be good friends ; since you allow the hen to be dressed at my table, we will divide it between us." Being settled quietly in the country, on the completion of her building plans, the Countess of Pembroke led a life of piety, charity, and self-denial; poverty and misery hid their ghastly heads where- ever she appeared. Strictly observant of her own religious obligations, she was anxious that none of her servants might be remiss or forgetful in theirs ; she took care to have several books of devotion and piety provided four times a year, for every one to choose such a volume as they had not previously possessed. Her servants were the children of her tenants ; they all admired, loved, and respected their kind, though somewhat eccentric, mistress, who, if their behaviour warranted her favour, was certain to make them some provision. To her women servants she always presented small portions on their marriage, to aid them in setting up house- keeping. 40
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