the uncle.

Therewith one or two others joined in the praise of Audley Egerton, and
many anecdotes of his liberality were told. Leonard listened at first
listlessly, at last with thoughtful attention. He had heard Burley,
too, speak highly of this generous statesman, who, without pretending to
genius himself, appreciated it in others. He suddenly remembered, too,
that Egerton was half-brother to the squire. Vague notions of some
appeal to this eminent person, not for charity, but employment to his
mind, gleamed across him,--inexperienced boy that he yet was! And
while thus meditating, the door of the House opened and out came Audley
Egerton himself. A partial cheering, followed by a general murmur,
apprised Leonard of the presence of the popular statesman. Egerton was
caught hold of by some five or six persons in succession; a shake of
the hand, a nod, a brief whispered word or two, sufficed the practised
member for graceful escape; and soon, free from the crowd, his tall,
erect figure passed on, and turned towards the bridge. He paused at the
angle and took out his watch, looking at it by the lamp-light.

"Harley will be here soon," he muttered,--"he is always punctual; and
now that I have spoken, I can give him an hour or so. That is well."

As he replaced his watch in his pocket and re-buttoned his coat over
his firm, broad chest, he lifted his eyes, and saw a young man standing
before him.

"Do you want me?" asked the statesman, with the direct brevity of his
practical character.

"Mr. Egerton," said the young man, with a voice that slightly trembled
and yet was manly amidst emotion, "you have a great name, and great
power; I stand here in these streets of London without a friend, and
without employment. I believe that I have it in me to do some nobler
work than that of bodily labour, had I but one friend,--one opening for
my thoughts. And now I have said this, I scarcely know how, or why, but
from despair, and the sudden impulse which that despair took from the
praise that follows your success, I have nothing more to add."

Audley Egerton was silent for a moment, struck by the tone and
address of the stranger; but the consummate and wary man of the world,
accustomed to all manner of strange applications and all varieties of
imposture, quickly recovered from a passing and slight effect.

"Are you a native of?" (naming the town which the statesman
represented).

"No, sir."

"Well, young man, I am very sorr