ttract him; scenes which, according to his character, either from
first impressions, or from particular associations, or from habit, have
a charm for him beyond all others.

She, therefore, asked the Earl which, of all these places, pleased him
best, where he would like to settle, and live for himself, if he might
choose. There was more than one lovely spot which he pointed out, with
what had happened to him there to make him love and value it; and the
peculiar accentuated French in which he spoke made it most pleasant to
listen to him.

To the further question, which was his ordinary residence that he
properly considered his home, he replied, without any hesitation, in a
manner quite unexpected by the ladies:

"I have accustomed myself by this time to be at home everywhere, and I
find, after all, that it is much more agreeable to allow others to
plant, and build, and keep house for me. I have no desire to return to
my own possessions, partly on political grounds, but principally because
my son, for whose sake alone it was any pleasure to me to remain and
work there--who will, by-and-by, inherit it, and with whom I hoped to
enjoy it--took no interest in the place at all, but has gone out to
India, where, like many other foolish fellows, he fancies he can make a
higher use of his life. He is more likely to squander it.

"Assuredly we spend far too much labor and outlay in preparation for
life. Instead of beginning at once to make ourselves happy in a moderate
condition, we spread ourselves out wider and wider, only to make
ourselves more and more uncomfortable. Who is there now to enjoy my
mansion, my park, my gardens? Not I, nor any of mine--strangers,
visitors, or curious, restless travelers.

"Even with large means, we are ever but half and half at home,
especially in the country, where we miss many things to which we have
become accustomed in town. The book for which we are most anxious is
not to be had, and just the thing which we most wanted is forgotten. We
take to being domestic, only again to go out of ourselves; if we do not
go astray of our own will and caprice, circumstances, passions,
accidents, necessity, and one does not know what besides, manage it for
us."

Little did the Earl imagine how deeply his friend would be touched by
these random observations. It is a danger to which we are all of us
exposed when we venture on general remarks in a society the
circumstances of which we might have supposed