e an unwritten law in
America that there shall be no "third term."
Macaulay saw all this and hesitated.
He advised with Lord Lansdowne, and with his sister Hannah, his nearest
and best friend; and if it had been possible his mother would have been
given the casting vote; but two years before, she had passed out, yet not
until she realized that her son was one of the foremost men in England.
Hannah Macaulay (named in honor of Hannah More) advised the acceptance of
the office, and upon his earnest request agreed to share her brother's
exile.
* * * * *
Hannah Macaulay, gracious in every way, was the sister of her brother. Her
mind was fit companion for his, and whenever he had a difficult problem on
hand he would clarify it by explaining it to her; and be it known, you can
never talk well to a dullard.
And so Hannah the loyal resigned her position as governess, and brother
and sister packed up and sailed away in the good ship "Asia" for India.
Among their belongings was a modest library of three thousand volumes, all
of which, a wit has said, were read twice through by Macaulay on the
outward voyage. India was safely reached, and Macaulay set himself with
his accustomed vigor to learning the language and informing himself as to
the actual status of things, in order that he might provide for their
betterment. On account of his grasp on legal matters he was elected Legal
Adviser of the Supreme Council.
Everything went well for a year, and then a terrible calamity overtook
Macaulay.
His sister was in love.
This seems a good place to explain that Thomas Babington Macaulay himself
was never in love. He had no time for that--his days were too full of
books and practical business to ever waste any time on soft sentiment.
But now he was confronted by a condition, not a theory: Lord Trevelyan was
in love with his sister, and his sister was in love with Lord Trevelyan.
Macaulay might have discovered the fact for himself and saved the lovers
the embarrassment of making a confession, had he not been so terribly busy
with his books, but Macaulay, like love, was blind--to some things.
He heard the confession, and wept.
Then he gave the pair his blessing--there was nothing else to do.
It was not long after the wedding that he discovered he had found a
brother instead of having lost a sister; and the sister being very happy,
Macaulay was happy, too. He insisted that they move their
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