t know what would happen. He tells you
himself that he will be nothing; and even if _he_ can put up with it
after being a man of such consideration in the county, how am _I_ to
put up with it? We have always been used to the very best society,"
said poor Louisa, with tears. "The Duke himself was not more thought
of; and now he tells you he is to be nothing!" Mrs Wentworth stopped
to dry her eyes with tremulous haste. "_He_ may not mind," said
Louisa, "for at least he is having his own way. It is all very well
for a man, who can do as he pleases; but it is his poor wife who will
have to suffer. I don't know who will visit me after it's all over,
and people will give over asking us if we don't ask them again; and
how can we ever have anybody, with five children--or more--and only a
few hundreds a-year? Oh, Frank, it kills me to think of it. Don't you
think you might speak to him again?" she whispered, stretching up to
his ear, when Gerald, with a sigh, had gone back to his window. The
Squire, too, cast an appealing glance at his younger son.

"It is all true enough that she says," said Mr Wentworth. "She mayn't
understand _him_, Frank, but she's right enough in what she's saying.
If things were different between your brother and me, I'd ask his
advice," said the Squire, with a sigh. He gave a longing look at his
eldest son, who stood with his usual ease before the fireplace.
Matters had gone a great deal too far between the father and son to
admit of the usual displeasure of an aggrieved parent--all that was
over long ago; and Mr Wentworth could not restrain a certain melting
of the heart towards his first-born. "He's not what I could wish, but
he's a man of the world, and might give us some practical advice,"
said the Squire, with his anxious looks. Of what possible advantage
advice, practical or otherwise, could have been in the circumstances,
it was difficult to see; but the Squire was a man of simple mind, and
still believed in the suggestions of wisdom. He still sat in the
easy-chair, looking wistfully at Jack, and with a certain faith that
matters might even yet be mended, if the counsel of his eldest son, as
a man of the world, could be had and could be trusted; when Frank, who
had an afternoon service at Wharfside, had to leave the family
committee. Gerald, who roused up when his younger brother mentioned
the business he was going upon, looked at Frank almost as wistfully as
his father looked at Jack. "It may be t