At least such a dog is the crest of the martial and renowned Earls of
Shrewsbury, to whom your family are probably blood relations.'
'I believe,' said the Colonel, smiling, 'our dogs are whelps of the same
litter: for my part, if crests were to dispute precedence, I should be
apt to let them, as the proverb says, "fight dog, fight bear."'
As he made this speech, at which the Baron took another long pinch of
snuff, they had entered the house--that is, the Baron, Rose, and Lady
Emily, with young Stanley and the Bailie, for Edward and the rest of the
party remained on the terrace, to examine a new greenhouse stocked with
the finest plants. The Baron resumed his favourite topic: 'However it
may please you to derogate from the honour of your burgonet, Colonel
Talbot, which is doubtless your humour, as I have seen in other
gentlemen of birth and honour in your country, I must again repeat it
as a most ancient and distinguished bearing, as well as that of my young
friend Francis Stanley, which is the eagle and child.'
'The bird and bantling they call it in Derbyshire, sir,' said Stanley.
'Ye're a daft callant, sir,' said the Baron, who had a great liking to
this young man, perhaps because he sometimes teased him--'Ye're a daft
callant, and I must correct you some of these days,' shaking his great
brown fist at him.
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