t
says that it wouldn't make any difference which she did.

Papa is beginning to be afraid that Everett is a
Radical. But I'm sure he's not. He says he is as good a
Conservative as there is in all Herefordshire, only that
he likes to know what is to be conserved. Papa said after
dinner yesterday that everything English ought to be
maintained. Everett said that according to that we should
have kept the Star Chamber. "Of course I would," said
papa. Then they went at it, hammer and tongs. Everett had
the best of it. At any rate he talked the longest. But I
do hope he is not a Radical. No country gentleman ought to
be a Radical. Ought he, dear?

Mrs. Fletcher says you are to get the lozenges at Squire's
in Oxford Street, and be sure to ask for the Vade mecum
lozenges. She is all in a flutter about the hounds. She
says she hopes John will do nothing of the kind because of
the expense; but we all know that she would like him to
have them. The subscription is not very good, only L1500,
and it would cost him ever so much a year. But everybody
says that he is very rich and that he ought to do it. If
you see Arthur give him our love. Of course a member of
Parliament is too busy to write letters. But I don't think
Arthur ever was good at writing. Everett says that men
never ought to write letters. Give my love to Mr. Wharton.

I am, dearest Emily,
Your most affectionate Cousin,

MARY WHARTON.

"Everett is a fool," said Mr. Wharton as soon as he had read the
letter.

"Why is he a fool, papa?"

"Because he will quarrel with Sir Alured about politics before he
knows where he is. What business has a young fellow like that to have
an opinion either one side or the other, before his betters?"

"But Everett always had strong opinions."

"It didn't matter as long as he only talked nonsense at a club in
London, but now he'll break that old man's heart."

"But, papa, don't you see anything else?"

"I see that John Fletcher is going to make an ass of himself and
spend a thousand a year in keeping up a pack of hounds for other
people to ride after."

"I think I see something else besides that."

"What do you see?"

"Would it annoy you if Everett were to become engaged to Mary?"

Then Mr. Wharton whistled. "To be sure she does put his name into
every line of her letter. No; it wouldn't annoy me. I don't see why
he shouldn't marry his seco