His Grace — page 42: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

36 HIS GRACE. first showed some disposition to be obstructive. New brooms cannot expect to be welcomed; it was, of course, probable that the young duke, being so much less wealthy than his predecessor, would wish to cut down expenses, and’a servant who for many years has been well paid in return for very little work naturally does not relish the idea of dismissal. However, my present instructions were to dismiss nobody, and, after a long and careful study of the documents submitted to me, I was able to arrive at the highly satisfactory conclusion that nobody needed to be dismissed. Stewards, bailiffs, gamekeepers, and house-servants, they were all respectful and civil to me from the out- set: as soon as they understood that I did not contem- plate any sweeping reforms, they became my very good friends, and did what they could to assist me in the carrying out of those which I deemed imperative. There was, to be sure, rather a superfluity of depend- ents; still, Hurstbourne’s means were ample enough to justify him in retaining their services—always suppos- ing, that is, that he did not squander his means in London or elsewhere. ) “IT do hope, sir,’”’ said the house-steward, a grave, gray-headed personage, ‘‘that we shall see his Grace here before the autumn. I should think, sir, that his Grace would reside chiefly at Hurstbourne, now that Lavenham has gone away from the family.” I could give no information as to the new owner’s plans, seeing that I did not possess any. ‘‘ But Laven- ham hasn’t gone away from the family, has it?” I asked. “I understood that it had been left to Mr. Paul Gascoigne.” “Yes, sir, yes; the property was left to Mr. Paul,” Eomichoo “S (E(@) m