human
he would sink at once and forever beneath the notice of the earl. He resolved, therefore, to anticipate--to contrive that it should ooze out easily and advantageously from himself, so that he could see the effect it had upon the earl, and regulate his movements accordingly. Gammon sat down before the fortress of the earl's pride, resolved that, for all it appeared so inaccessible and impregnable, it should fall, however his skill and patience might be taxed in the siege. Till he had cast his piercing eye upon the earl, Gammon had felt a little of the nervousness which one may imagine would be experienced by Van Amburgh, who, on being called into the presence of majesty to give a specimen of his skill upon an animal concealed from him, of whose name and qualities he was ignorant--should summon all his terrors into his eye, and string his muscles to their highest tension; and, on the door being opened, turn with smiling scorn--if not indignation--from a sucking pig, a calf, an ass, or a chicken. Something similar were the feelings experienced by Gammon, as soon as he had scanned the countenance and figure of the Earl of Dreddlington. He quickly perceived that the dash of awe which he had thrown into his manner was producing its due effect upon that most magnificent simpleton. Watching his opportunity, he gently introduced the topic of the recent change of ownership which Yatton had undergone; and in speaking of the manner in which Mr. Titmouse had borne his sudden prosperity--
gpt
Yes, my Lord, continued Gammon, with apparent carelessness,
human
I recollect making some such observation to him, and he replied, 'Very true, _Mr. Gammon_' --Gammon finished his sentence calmly; but he perceived that the earl had withdrawn himself into his earldom. He had given a very slight start; a little color had mounted into his cheek; a sensible hauteur had been assumed, and by the time that Gammon had done speaking, the space between them had been--as Lord Dreddlington imagined, unobservedly--increased by two or three inches. Gammon was a _man_--an able and a proud man--and he felt galled; but,
gpt
he presently reflected--