n; "but I should
be a very poor creature indeed, if, at my age, I did not know what I
believed, and was not perfectly convinced that I am right. Consequently
(though, I repeat, Mr Shirley has chosen the most inconvenient moment
possible for dying), it can't be expected of me that I should appoint my
nephew, whose opinions in most points are exactly the opposite of mine."

"I wish, at least, you would believe what I say," interrupted the
Curate, impatiently. "There might have been some sense in all this
three months ago; but if Skelmersdale were the high-road to everything
desirable in the Church, you are all quite aware that I could not
accept it. Stop, Gerald; I am not so disinterested as you think," said
Frank; "if I left Carlingford now, people would remember against me
that my character had been called in question here. I can remain a
perpetual curate," said the young man, with a smile, "but I can't
tolerate any shadow upon my honour. I am sorry I came in at such an
awkward moment. Good morning, aunt Leonora. I hope Julia Trench, when
she has the Rectory, will always keep of your way of thinking. She
used to incline a little to mine," he said, mischievously, as he went
away.

"Come back, Frank, presently," said the Squire, whose attention had
been distracted from his 'Times.' Mr Wentworth began to be tired of
such a succession of exciting discussions. He thought if he had Frank
quietly to himself he could settle matters much more agreeably; but
the 'Times' was certainly an accompaniment more tranquillising so far
as a comfortable meal was concerned.

"He can't come back presently," said aunt Leonora. "You speak as if he
had nothing to do; when, on the contrary, he has everything to
do--that is worth doing," said that contradictory authority. "Come
back to lunch, Frank; and I wish you would eat your breakfast, Dora,
and not stare at me."

Miss Dora had come down to breakfast as an invalid, in a pretty little
cap, with a shawl over her dressing-gown. She had not yet got over her
adventure and the excitement of Rosa's capture. That unusual accident,
and all the applauses of her courage which had been addressed to her
since, had roused the timid woman. She did not withdraw her eyes from
her sister, though commanded to do so; on the contrary, her look grew
more and more emphatic. She meant to have made a solemn address,
throwing off Leonora's yoke, and declaring her intention, in this grave
crisis of her nephew's fo