e to stir the
country.

It now became an offence to him that Beauchamp should continue doing
this in the speeches and lectures he was reported to be delivering;
he stamped his foot at the sight of his nephew's name in the daily
journals; a novel sentiment of social indignation was expressed by his
crying out, at the next request for money: 'Money to prime you to
turn the country into a rat-hole? Not a square inch of Pennsylvanian
paper-bonds! What right have you to be lecturing and orationing? You've
no knowledge. All you've got is your instincts, and that you show in
your readiness to exhibit them like a monkey. You ought to be turned
inside out on your own stage. You've lumped your brains on a point or
two about Land, and Commonland, and the Suffrage, and you pound away
upon them, as if you had the key of the difficulty. It's the Scotchman's
metaphysics; you know nothing clear, and your working-classes know
nothing at all; and you blow them with wind like an over-stuffed cow.
What you're driving at is to get hob-nail boots to dance on our heads.
Stukely says you should be off over to Ireland. There you'd swim in your
element, and have speechifying from instinct, and howling and pummelling
too, enough to last you out. I 'll hand you money for that expedition.
You're one above the number wanted here. You've a look of bad powder fit
only to flash in the pan. I saved you from the post of public donkey, by
keeping you out of Parliament. You're braying and kicking your worst
for it still at these meetings of yours. A naval officer preaching about
Republicanism and parcelling out the Land!'

Beauchamp replied quietly, 'The lectures I read are Dr. Shrapnel's. When
I speak I have his knowledge to back my deficiencies. He is too ill
to work, and I consider it my duty to do as much of his work as I can
undertake.'

'Ha! You're the old infidel's Amen clerk. It would rather astonish
orthodox congregations to see clerks in our churches getting into the
pulpit to read the sermon for sick clergymen,' said Lord Avonley. His
countenance furrowed. 'I'll pay that bill,' he added.

'Pay down half a million!' thundered Beauchamp; and dropping his voice,
'or go to him.'

'You remind me,' his uncle observed. 'I recommend you to ring that bell,
and have Mrs. Culling here.'

'If she comes she will hear what I think of her.'

'Then, out of the house!'

'Very well, sir. You decline to supply me with money?'

'I do.'

'I must have i