ighted that an Italian singer should have a
larger revenue than the highest of our own bishops. Such patriots might
have done well enough for Athenians," added he, looking exultingly at
Miss Sparkes, "but they make miserable Englishmen. Then I hate to see
fellows who pay least taxes, complaining most of the burden--those who
most lament the hardness of the times, spending money in needless
extravagance, and luxury increasing in exact proportion as means
diminish.

"Then I am sick of the conceit of the boys and girls. Do but observe how
their vanity imposes on their understanding, and how names disguise
things. My son would start, if I were to desire him to go to London in
the _stage coach_, but he _puts himself into the mail_ with great
coolness. If I were to talk to Fan about living in a _small house_, she
would not give me the hearing, whereas she is quite wild to live in a
_cottage_."

"I do not quite agree with you, Mr. Flam," said Sir John, smiling, "as
to the inconsistency of the world, I rather lament its dull uniformity.
If we may rely on those living chronicles, the newspapers, all is one
faultless scene of monotonous perfection. Were it otherwise, I presume
those frugal philologers would not keep a set of phrases ready cut and
dried, in order to apply them universally in all cases. For instance, is
not every public place from St. James's to Otaheite, or the Cape,
invariably _crowded with beauty and fashion_? Is not every public sermon
pronounced to be _excellent_? Is not every civic speech, every
provincial harangue, _neat and appropriate_? And is not every military
corps, from the veteran regiment of regulars, to the volunteer company
of a month's standing, always declared to be _in the highest state of
discipline_?"

Before the company went away, I observed that Mrs. Carlton gave Lucilla
a significant glance, and both withdrew together. In spite of my
thorough belief of the injustice and absurdity of my suspicions, a pang
darted through my heart at the bare possibility that Lord Staunton
might be the subject of this secret conference. I was perfectly assured,
that Miss Stanley would never accept him, while he retained his present
character, but that character might be improved. She had rejected him
for his principles; if these principles were changed, there was no other
reasonable ground of objection. He might be reformed. Dare I own, even
to myself, that I dreaded to hear of his reformation. I hate mysel