‘I like a county in which there is something left of county feeling,’ said Lady Carbury.  ’Staffordshire and Warwickshire, Cheshire and Lancashire have become great towns, and have lost all local distinctions.’

‘We still keep our name and reputation,’ said the bishop; ’silly Suffolk!’

‘But that was never deserved.’

’As much, perhaps, as other general epithets.  I think we are a sleepy people.  We’ve got no coal, you see, and no iron.  We have no beautiful scenery, like the lake country,—­no rivers great for fishing, like Scotland,—­no hunting grounds, like the shires.’

‘Partridges!’ pleaded Lady Carbury, with pretty energy.

’Yes; we have partridges, fine churches, and the herring fishery.  We shall do very well if too much is not expected...