LordHollingford，theeldestson，hadlosthiswife，andwasagooddealmoreattheTowerssincehehadbecomeawidower。Hewasatallungainlyman，consideredtobeasproudashismother，thecountess；but，infact，hewasonlyshy，andslowatmakingcommonplacespeeches。Hedidnotknowwhattosaytopeoplewhosedailyhabitsandinterestswerenotthesameashis；hewouldhavebeenverythankfulforahandbookofsmall—talk，andwouldhavelearntoffhissentenceswithgood—humoureddiligence。Heoftenenviedthefluencyofhisgarrulousfather，whodelightedintalkingtoeverybody，andwasperfectlyunconsciousoftheincoherenceofhisconversation。
But，owingtohisconstitutionalreserveandshyness，LordHollingfordwasnotapopularman，althoughhiskindnessofheartwasverygreat，hissimplicityofcharacterextreme，andhisscientificacquirementsconsiderableenoughtoentitlehimtomuchreputationintheEuropeanrepublicoflearnedmen。InthisrespectHollingfordwasproudofhim。Theinhabitantsknewthatthegreat，grave，clumsyheirtoitsfealtywashighlyesteemedforhiswisdom；andthathehadmadeoneortwodiscoveries，thoughinwhatdirectiontheywerenotquitesure。Butitwassafetopointhimouttostrangersvisitingthelittletown，as’That’sLordHollingford—thefamousLordHollingford，youknow；youmusthaveheardofhim，heissoscientific。’
Ifthestrangersknewhisname，theyalsoknewhisclaimstofame；iftheydidnot，tentoonebuttheywouldmakeasiftheydid，andsoconcealnotonlytheirownignorance，butthatoftheircompanions，istotheexactnatureofthesourcesofhisreputation。Hewasleftawidower，withtwoorthreeboys。Theywereatapublicschool；
sothattheircompanionshipcouldmakethehouseinwhichhehadpassedhismarriedlifebutlittleofahometohim，andheconsequentlyspentmuchofhistimeattheTowers；wherehismotherwasproudofhim，andhisfatherveryfond，buteversolittleafraidofhim。HisfriendswerealwayswelcomedbyLordandLadyCumnor；theformer，indeed，wasinthehabitofwelcomingeverybodyeverywhere；butitwasaproofofLadyCumnor’srealaffectionforherdistinguishedson，thatsheallowedhimtoaskwhatshecalled’allsortsofpeople’totheTowers。’Allsortsofpeople’meantreallythosewhoweredistinguishedforscienceandlearning，withoutregardtorank；and，itmustbeconfessed，withoutmuchregardtopolishedmannerslikewise。MrHall，MrGibson’spredecessor，hadalwaysbeenreceivedwithfriendlycondescensionbymylady，whohadfoundhimestablishedasthefamilymedicalman，whenfirstshecametotheTowersonhermarriage；butsheneverthoughtofinterferingwithhiscustomoftakinghismeals，ifheneededrefreshment，inthehousekeeper’sroom，notwiththehousekeeper，bienentendu。
Thecomfortable，clever，stout，andred—faceddoctorwouldverymuchhavepreferredthis，evenifhehadhadthechoicegivenhim（whichheneverhad）oftakinghis’snack，’ashecalledit，withmylordandmylady，inthegranddining—room。Ofcourse，ifsomegreatsurgicalgun（likeSirAstley）wasbroughtdownfromLondontobearonthefamily’shealth，itwasduetohim，aswellastothelocalmedicalattendant，toaskMrHalltodinner，inaformalandceremoniousmanner，onwhichoccasionsMrHallburiedhischininvoluminousfoldsofwhitemuslin，putonhisblackknee—breeches，withbunchesofribbonatthesides，hissilkstockingsandbuckledshoes，andotherwisemadehimselfexcessivelyuncomfortableinhisattire，andwentforthinstateinapost—chaisefromthe’George，’consolinghimselfintheprivatecornerofhisheartforthediscomforthewasenduringwiththeideaofhowwellitwouldsoundthenextdayinthecarsofthesquireswhomhewasinthehabitofattending。’Yesterdayatdinnertheearlsaid，’