and out of my own family there
is no man I love and respect more."

Trevanion.--"Humph! What's all this? [In an undertone]--Am I going to be
taken in?"

Pisistratus.--"Do not think me ungrateful, then, when I say I come to
resign my office,--to leave the house where I have been so happy."

Trevanion.--"Leave the house! Pooh! I have over-tasked you. I will be
more merciful in future. You must forgive a political economist; it is
the fault of my sect to look upon men as machines."

Pisistratus (smiling faintly).--"No, indeed; that is not it! I have
nothing to complain of, nothing I could wish altered; could I stay."

Trevanion (examining me thoughtfully).--"And does your father approve of
your leaving me thus?"

Pisistratus.--"Yes, fully."

Trevanion (musing a moment).--"I see, he would send you to the
University, make you a book-worm like himself. Pooh! that will not do;
you will never become wholly a man of books,--it is not in you. Young
man, though I may seem careless, I read characters, when I please it,
pretty quickly. You do wrong to leave me; you are made for the great
world,--I can open to you a high career. I wish to do so! Lady Ellinor
wishes it,--nay, insists on it,--for your father's sake as well as
yours. I never ask a favor from ministers, and I never will. But" (here
Trevanion rose suddenly, and with an erect mien and a quick gesture
of his arm he added)--"but a minister can dispose as he pleases of his
patronage. Look you, it is a secret yet, and I trust to your honor.
But before the year is out, I must be in the Cabinet. Stay with me; I
guarantee your fortunes,--three months ago I would not have said that.
By and by I will open Parliament for you,--you are not of age yet; work
till then. And now sit down and write my letters,--a sad arrear!"

"My dear, dear Mr. Trevanion!" said I, so affected that I could scarcely
speak, and seizing his hand, which I pressed between both mine, "I
dare not thank you,--I cannot! But you don't know my heart: it is not
ambition. No! if I could but stay here on the same terms forever--here,"
looking ruefully on that spot where Fanny had stood the night before.
"But it is impossible! If you knew all, you would be the first to bid me
go!"

"You are in debt," said the man of the world, coldly. "Bad, very
bad--still--"

"No, sir; no! worse."

"Hardly possible to be worse, young man--hardly! But, just as you--will;
you leave me, and will not say why. Goodby. Why do