its
details--parsimonious, or extravagant, or even short-sighted in his
speculations--public feeling, than which nothing is more ignorant,
would have risen in favour of the Fixed Period. "How true is the
president's reasoning," the people would have said. "Look at
Crasweller; he would have ruined Little Christchurch had he stayed
there much longer." But everything he did seemed to prosper; and
it occurred to me at last that he forced himself into abnormal
sprightliness, with a view of bringing disgrace upon the law of
the Fixed Period. If there were any such feeling, I regard it as
certainly mean.

On the day after the dinner at which Eva's pudding was eaten, Abraham
Grundle came to me at the Executive Hall, and said that he had a few
things to discuss with me of importance. Abraham was a good-looking
young man, with black hair and bright eyes, and a remarkably handsome
moustache; and he was one well inclined to business, in whose hands
the firm of Grundle, Grabbe, & Crasweller was likely to thrive; but
I myself had never liked him much. I had thought him to be a little
wanting in that reverence which he owed to his elders, and to be,
moreover, somewhat over-fond of money. It had leaked out that though
he was no doubt attached to Eva Crasweller, he had thought quite as
much of Little Christchurch; and though he could kiss Eva behind
the door, after the ways of young men, still he was more intent
on the fleeces than on her lips. "I want to say a word to you, Mr
President," he began, "upon a subject that disturbs my conscience
very much."

"Your conscience?" said I.

"Yes, Mr President. I believe you're aware that I am engaged to marry
Miss Crasweller?"

It may be as well to explain here that my own eldest son, as fine a
boy as ever delighted a mother's eye, was only two years younger than
Eva, and that my wife, Mrs Neverbend, had of late got it into her
head that he was quite old enough to marry the girl. It was in vain
that I told her that all that had been settled while Jack was still
at the didascalion. He had been Colonel of the Curriculum, as they
now call the head boy; but Eva had not then cared for Colonels of
Curriculums, but had thought more of young Grundle's moustache. My
wife declared that all that was altered,--that Jack was, in fact,
a much more manly fellow than Abraham with his shiny bit of beard;
and that if one could get at a maiden's heart, we should find that
Eva thought so. In answer to this I