ina, winding up, "as soon as Reginald is of
age we shall get him into Parliament. Carr has always lamented that he
himself was not broken into office early; Reginald must be. Nothing so
requisite for public men as early training; makes them practical, and
not too sensitive to what those horrid newspaper men say. That was
Pitt's great advantage. Reginald has ambition; he should have occupation
to keep him out of mischief. It is an anxious thing for a mother, when a
son is good-looking: such danger of his being spoiled by the women. Yes,
my dear, it is a small foot, very small,--his father's foot."

"If Lord Montfort should have no family," said a somewhat distant and
subaltern Vipont, whisperingly and hesitating, "does not the title--"

"No, my dear," interrupted Lady Selina; "no, the title does not come
to us. It is a melancholy thought, but the marquisate, in that case, is
extinct. No other heir-male from Gilbert, the first marquess. Carr says
there is even likely to be some dispute about the earldom. The Barony,
of course, is safe; goes with the Irish estates, and most of the
English; and goes (don't you know?) to Sir James Vipont, the last person
who ought to have it; the quietest, stupidest creature; not brought
up to the sort of thing,--a mere gentleman-farmer on a small estate in
Devonshire."

"He is not here?"

"No. Lord Montfort does not like him. Very natural. Nobody likes his
heir, if not his own child; and some people don't even like their own
eldest sons! Shocking; but so it is. Montfort is the kindest, most
tractable being that ever was, except where he takes a dislike. He
dislikes two or three people very much."

"True; how he did dislike poor Mrs. Lyndsay!" said one of the listeners,
smiling.

"Mrs. Lyndsay, yes,--dear Lady Montfort's mother. I can't say I pitied
her, though I was sorry for Lady Montfort. How Mrs. Lyndsay ever took in
Montfort for Caroline I can't conceive! How she had the face to think of
it! He, a mere youth at the time! Kept secret from all his family, even
from his grandmother,--the darkest transaction. I don't wonder that he
never forgave it."

FIRST LISTENER.--"Caroline has beauty enough to--"

LADY SELINA (interrupting).--"Beauty, of course: no one can deny that.
But not at all suited to such a position, not brought up to the sort of
thing. Poor Montfort! he should have married a different kind of woman
altogether,--a woman like his grandmother, the last Lady Montfort.
Ca