; and that if
you are--I hate the word--what you say, her too great fondness helped
to make you so. And as for the world, when men go out into it, I suppose
they cannot be otherwise than selfish. You have to fight for yourself,
and to get on for yourself, and to make a name for yourself. Mamma and
your uncle both encouraged you in this ambition. If it is a vain thing,
why pursue it? I suppose such a clever man as you intend to do a great
deal of good to the country, by going into Parliament, or you would not
wish to be there. What are you going to do when you are in the House of
Commons?"

"Women don't understand about politics, my dear," Pen said sneering at
himself as he spoke.

"But why don't you make us understand? I could never tell about Mr.
Pynsent why he should like to be there so much. He is not a clever
man----"

"He certainly is not a genius, Pynsent," said Pen.

"Lady Diana says that he attends Committees all day; that then again he
is at the House all night; that he always votes as he is told; that he
never speaks; that he will never get on beyond a subordinate place; and
as his grandmother tells him, he is choked with red-tape. Are you going
to follow the same career; Arthur? What is there in it so brilliant that
you should be so eager for it? I would rather that you should stop
at home, and write books--good books, kind books, with gentle kind
thoughts, such as you have, dear Arthur, and such as might do people
good to read. And if you do not win fame, what then? You own it is
vanity, and you can live very happily without it. I must not pretend to
advise; but I take you at your own word about the world; and as you own
it is wicked, and that it tires you, ask you why you don't leave it?"

"And what would you have me do?" asked Arthur.

"I would have you bring your wife to Fairoaks to live there, and study,
and do good round about you. I would like to see your own children
playing on the lawn, Arthur, and that we might pray in our mother's
church again once more, dear brother. If the world is a temptation, are
we not told to pray that we may not be led into it?"

"Do you think Blanche would make a good wife for a petty country
gentleman? Do you think I should become the character very well, Laura?"
Pen asked. "Remember temptation walks about the hedgerows as well as the
city streets: and idleness is the greatest tempter of all."

"What does--does Mr. Warrington say?" said Laura, as a blush mounted