the rulers.
Otherwise, as far as I can see, a man will suffer less from the
stings of pride under an absolute monarch. There, only one man has
beaten you in life; here, some seven hundred and fifty do so,--not to
talk of the peers."

"Yes, but then a fellow has some chance of being one of the seven
hundred and fifty."

"I shall go in for that, I think; only who the deuce will return me?
How does a man begin? Shall I send my compliments to the electors of
Marylebone, and tell them that I am a very clever fellow?"

"Exactly; only do something first to show that you are so. I mean
also to look to that; but I shall be well contented if I find myself
in the house in twenty years' time,--or perhaps in thirty."

"Ah, you mean as a lawyer."

"How else should a man without property get into Parliament?"

"That's just what I want to know. But I have no idea, Harcourt, of
waiting twenty years before I make my start in life. A man at any
rate may write a book without any electors."

"Yes, but not have it read. The author who does any good must be
elected by suffrages at least as honestly obtained as those of a
member of Parliament."

CHAPTER III.

THE NEW VICAR.

Poor Arthur Wilkinson was in a very unhappy frame of mind when he
left the party at Parker's, and, indeed, as he went to bed that night
he was in a state not to be envied; but, nevertheless, when the end
of the week came, he was able to enter the parsonage with a cheerful
step, and to receive his mother's embrace with a smiling face. God
is good to us, and heals those wounds with a rapidity which seems to
us impossible when we look forward, but which is regarded with very
insufficient wonder when we look backward.

Before he left Oxford he had seen the head of his college and the
tutor; and had also felt himself bound to visit the tradesmen in
whose black books he was written down as a debtor. None of these
august persons made themselves so dreadful to him as he had expected.
The master, indeed, was more than civil--was almost paternally kind,
and gave him all manner of hope, which came as balm poured into
his sick heart. Though he had failed, his reputation and known
acquirements would undoubtedly get him pupils; and then, if he
resided, he might probably even yet have a college fellowship,
though, no doubt, not quite immediately. The master advised him to
take orders, and to remain within the college as long as the rules
permitted. If he should g