Louise possessed the quality of being a good listener in a higher degree
than any one else in the family, and therefore she heard more than any
one else of his Excellency; but not of him only, for Jacobi had always
something to tell her, always something to consult her about; and in
case she were not too much occupied with her thoughts about the weaving,
he could always depend upon the most intense sympathy, and the best
advice both with regard to moral questions and economical arrangements,
dress, plans for the future, and so forth. He also gave her good
advice--which however was very seldom followed--when she was playing
Postilion; he also drew patterns for her tapestry work, and was very
fond of reading aloud to her--but novels rather than sermons.
But he was not long allowed to sit by her side alone; for very soon a
person seated himself at her other side whom we will call the _Landed
Proprietor_, as he was chiefly remarkable for the possession of a large
estate in the vicinity of the town.
The Landed Proprietor seemed to be disposed to dispute with the
Candidate--let us continue to call him so, as we are all, in one way or
the other, Candidates in this world--the place which he possessed. The
Landed Proprietor had, besides his estate, a very portly body; round,
healthy-looking cheeks; a pair of large gray eyes, remarkable for their
want of expression; and a little rosy mouth, which preferred mastication
to speaking, which laughed without meaning, and which now began to
direct to "Cousin Louise"--for he considered himself related to the
Lagman--several short speeches, which we will recapitulate in the
following chapter, headed