an, and you must not begin by outraging the very
few who might chance to be well disposed towards you."

Tony stood abashed and overwhelmed, his cheeks on fire with shame, but
he never uttered a word.

"I have very little patronage," said Sir Harry, drawing himself up
and speaking in a cold, measured tone; "the colonies appoint their own
officials, with a very few exceptions. I could make you a bishop or an
attorney-general, but I could n't make you a tide-waiter! What can you
do? Do you write a good hand?"

"No, sir; it is legible,--that's all."

"And of course you know nothing of French or German?"

"A little French; not a word of German, sir."

"I'd be surprised if you did. It is always when a fellow has utterly
neglected his education that he comes to a Government for a place. The
belief apparently is that the State supports a large institution of
incapables, eh?"

"Perhaps there is that impression abroad," said Tony, defiantly.

"Well, sir, the impression, as you phrase it, is unfounded, I can
affirm. I have already declared it in the House, that there is not a
government in Europe more ably, more honestly, or more zealously served
than our own. We may not have the spirit of discipline of the French, or
the bureaucracy of the Prussian; but we have a class of officials proud
of the departments they administer; and, let me tell you,--it's no small
matter,--very keen after retiring pensions."

Either Sir Harry thought he had said a smart thing, or that the theme
suggested something that tickled his fancy, for he smiled pleasantly
now on Tony, and looked far better tempered than before. Indeed, Tony
laughed at the abrupt peroration, and that laugh did him no disservice.

"Well, now, Butler, what are we to do with you?" resumed the Minister,
good-humoredly. "It's not easy to find the right thing, but I 'll
talk it over with Darner. Give him your address, and drop in upon him
occasionally,--not too often, but now and then, so that he should n't
forget you. Meanwhile brush up your French and Italian. I 'm glad you
know Italian."

"But I do not, sir; not a syllable of the language."

"Oh, it was German, then? Don't interrupt me. Indeed, let me take
the occasion to impress upon you that you have this great fault of
manners,--a fault I have remarked prevalent among Irishmen, and which
renders them excessively troublesome in the House, and brings them
frequently under the reproof of the Speaker. If you read the