ent; it would give us more
liberty of action."

"My dear Harley, shake hands; anything you please. You know how I have
wished to see you come forward, and take that part in life which becomes
your birth."

"Ah, you think I have sadly wasted my existence hitherto."

"To be frank with you, yes, Harley," said the earl, with a pride that
was noble in its nature, and not without dignity in its expression. "The
more we take from our country, the more we owe to her. From the moment
you came into the world as the inheritor of lands and honours, you were
charged with a trust for the benefit of others, that it degrades one of
our order of gentleman not to discharge."

Harley listened with a sombre brow, and made no direct reply.

"Indeed," resumed the earl, "I would rather you were about to canvass
for yourself than for your friend Egerton. But I grant he is an example
that it is never too late to follow. Why, who that had seen you both
as youths, notwithstanding Audley had the advantage of being some
years your senior--who could have thought that he was the one to become
distinguished and eminent, and you to degenerate into the luxurious
idler, averse to all trouble and careless of all fame? You, with such
advantages, not only of higher fortunes, but, as every one said, of
superior talents; you, who had then so much ambition, so keen a desire
for glory, sleeping with Plutarch's Lives under your pillow, and only,
my wild son, only too much energy. But you are a young man still; it is
not too late to redeem the years you have thrown away."

"The years are nothing,--mere dates in an almanac; but the feelings,
what can give me back those?--the hope, the enthusiasm, the--No matter!
feelings do not, help men to rise in the world. Egerton's feelings are
not too lively. What I might have been, leave it to me to remember; let
us talk of the example you set before me,--of Audley Egerton."

"We must get him in," said the earl, sinking his voice into a whisper.
"It is of more importance to him than I even thought for. But you know
his secrets. Why did you not confide to me frankly the state of his
affairs?"

"His affairs? Do you mean that they are seriously embarrassed? This
interests me much. Pray speak; what do you know?"

"He has discharged the greater part of his establishment. That in itself
is natural on quitting office; but still it set people talking; and it
has got wind that his estates are not only mortgaged for more tha