spoil their sight by poring through cracked telescopes
to catch a glimpse of posterity. Gordon is a man to be a Chancellor of
the Exchequer, perhaps a Prime Minister."

"And old Gordon's son is cleverer than my boy,--than the namesake of
Kenelm Digby!" and Sir Peter sighed.

"I did not say that. I am cleverer than Chillingly Gordon, and the
proof of it is that I am too clever to wish to be Prime Minister,--very
disagreeable office, hard work, irregular hours for meals, much abuse
and confirmed dyspepsia."

Sir Peter went away rather down-hearted. He found Chillingly Gordon at
home in a lodging in Jermyn Street. Though prepossessed against him by
all he had heard, Sir Peter was soon propitiated in his favour. Gordon
had a frank man-of-the-world way with him, and much too fine a tact
to utter any sentiments likely to displease an old-fashioned country
gentleman, and a relation who might possibly be of service in his
career. He touched briefly, and with apparent feeling, on the unhappy
litigation commenced by his father; spoke with affectionate praise of
Kenelm; and with a discriminating good-nature of Mivers, as a man who,
to parody the epigram on Charles II.,

"Never says a kindly thing
And never does a harsh one."

Then he drew Sir Peter on to talk of the country and agricultural
prospects. Learned that among his objects in visiting town was the wish
to inspect a patented hydraulic ram that might be very useful for his
farm-yard, which was ill supplied with water. Startled the Baronet by
evincing some practical knowledge of mechanics; insisted on accompanying
him to the city to inspect the ram; did so, and approved the purchase;
took him next to see a new American reaping-machine, and did not part
with him till he had obtained Sir Peter's promise to dine with him at
the Garrick; an invitation peculiarly agreeable to Sir Peter, who had
a natural curiosity to see some of the more recently distinguished
frequenters of that social club. As, on quitting Gordon, Sir Peter took
his way to the house of Leopold Travers, his thoughts turned with much
kindliness towards his young kinsman. "Mivers and Kenelm," quoth he to
himself, "gave me an unfavourable impression of this lad; they represent
him as worldly, self-seeking, and so forth. But Mivers takes such
cynical views of character, and Kenelm is too eccentric to judge fairly
of a sensible man of the world. At all events, it is not like an egotist
to put himself