ent for reporting Sir Miles's
opinion, but the Earl did not betray his gratification. 'First sight!'
he said. 'Last night and this afternoon he is as unlike as these are,'
and he placed before her Louis's unlucky copies, together with a letter
written in a bold, manly hand. 'Three different men might have written
these! And he pretends he cannot write like this, if he please!'

'I have no doubt it is to a certain extent true. Yes, absolutely true.
You do not conceive the influence that mood has on some characters
before they have learnt to master themselves. I do not mean temper,
but the mere frame of spirits. Even sense of restraint will often take
away the actual power from a child, or where there is not a strong
will.'

'You are right!' said he, becoming rigid as if with pain. 'He is a
child! You have not yet told me what you think of him. You need not
hesitate. No one sees the likeness more plainly than I do.'

'It is strong externally,' she said; 'but I think it is more external
than real, more temperament than character.'

'You are too metaphysical for me, Mary;' and he would fain have smiled.

'I want you to be hopeful. Half the object would be attained if you
were, and he really deserves that you should.'

'He will not let me. If I hope at one moment, I am disappointed the
next.'

'And how? By nothing worse than boyishness. You confirm what my aunt
tells me, that there has never been a serious complaint of him.'

'Never. His conduct has always been blameless; but every tutor has
said the same--that he has no application, and allows himself to be
surpassed by any one of moderate energy!'

'Blameless conduct! How many fathers would give worlds to be able to
give such a character of a son!'

'There are faults that are the very indications of a manly spirit,'
began the Earl, impatiently. 'Not that I mean that I wish--he has
never given me any trouble--but just look at James Frost, and you would
see what I mean! There's energy in him--fire--independence; you feel
there is substance in him, and like him the better for having a will
and way of his own.'

'So, I think, has Louis; but it is so often thwarted, that it sinks
away under the sense of duty and submission.'

'If there were any consistency or reason in his fancies, they would not
give way so easily; but it is all talk, all extravagant notions--here
one day, gone the next. Not a spark of ambition!'

'Ambition is not so safe a