Kenelm Chillingly, Book 6.

ew weeks; and the good Baronet now resolved to go to London himself, take his chance of Kenelm's return, and if still absent, at least learn from Mivers and others

that resettlement of estates, the necessary deeds of which the young heir had signed before quitting London for Moleswich

val in town Sir Peter

said Sir Peter, glancing at the well-appoint

prevent my being comfortable. I am

y never knew comfort

n Min

my uses and monopolized by 'the angel of my hearth,' clouded in her crinoline and halved by her chignon. No! if ever I marry-and I never deprive myself of the civilities and needlework which single ladies waste upon me by saying I shall not marry-it will be when women have fully established their rights; for then men may have a chance of vindicating their own. Then if there are two drawing-rooms in the house I shall take one; if not, we will toss up who shall have the back parlour; if we keep a brougham, it will be exclusively mine three d

Kenelm with your selfish ideas on the nuptial

at I kn

girl is Ceci

'superior woman.' A handsome, well-educated, sensible young lady, not spoiled by being an he

hink Kenelm has

speaking,

which sons do not confide in their fathers. You ha

ble savage who ran in

ve

righte

uaws, and was wise enough to run away from

eap of notes on his table and no directions where they are to be forwa

than most young men, and perhaps mo

scharge that debt to the literary stores or the political interests of his country, which alas, I and my predec

reat reverse of fortune befell him, and he had to work for his livelihood, or if some other direful calamity gave a shock to his nervous system and jolted it into a fussy, fidgety direction, I dare

n great men who were n

ny aliases: call it ambition, call it love of fame, still its substance

e for abstract truth wi

the distinction between light and heat. But if, on returning to the world, he pu

to be of use and benefit to mankind. You don't

nd putting himself very much out of his way, for a philanthropical object, without the slightest idea of reward either in praise or pence, I know that

u are not a bad-hearted fellow; you must love mankind;

for draining the Pontine Marshes out of pure love to mankind; no propositions for doubling the income-tax, as a reserve fund for

race; you do care for the g

e half as much if ten millions of human beings were swallowed up by an earthquake at a considerable distance from his own residence, say Abyssinia, as he would for a rise in his butcher's bil

very sharp attack of neuralgia, shook his head

wn, to call on your old friend Travers, and be introduced to Cecilia. If you think as favourably of her as I do, why not ask father and daughter to pay you a visit at Exm

ly. And I want also to make the acquaintanc

ys find him at home till two o'clock. He is too sensible to wa

at young kinsman. Kenelm tells me

wide-awake eyes, that look only on such portions of mankind as can be of use to him, and do not spoil their sight by poring through

is cleverer than my bo

!" and Sir P

t is that I am too clever to wish to be Prime Minister,-very disagreeable off

ank man-of-the-world way with him, and much too fine a tact to utter any sentiments likely to displease an old-fashioned country gentleman, and a relation who might possibly be of service in his career. He touched briefly

ays a ki

does a h

ith him till he had obtained Sir Peter's promise to dine with him at the Garrick; an invitation peculiarly agreeable to Sir Peter, who had a natural curiosity to see some of the more recently distinguished frequenters of that social club. As, on quitting Gordon, Sir Peter took his way to the house of Leopold Travers, his thoughts turned with much kindliness towards his young kinsman. "Mivers and Kenelm," quoth he to himself, "gave me an unfavourable impression of this lad; they represent

heir private study; he was fond of female society; and perhaps it was this predilection which contributed to preserve in him the charm of good breeding and winning manners. The two men had not met for many y

him; but he left the Whig party with the Duke of Richmond, Mr. Stanley (afterwards Lo

remained with the Peelites after the bulk of the Tory party had renounced the guidance of their former chief, and now went with th

ith fair locks and dreamy blue eyes, had now become rather portly,-at least towards the middle of him,-and very gray; had long ago taken to spectacles; his dress, too, was very old-fashioned, and made by a country tailor. He looked quite as much a gentleman as Travers did; quite perhaps as healthy, allowing for difference of years; quite as likely to last his time. But between them there was the difference of the nervous temperament and the lymphatic. Travers, with less brain than Sir Peter, had kept his brain constantly active; Sir Peter had allowed his brain to dawdle over old books

es are bygones; come to the present. Let me introduce to you, first, my valued friend, Mrs. Campion, whose distinguished husband you remember. Ah, what pleasant meetings we had at his h

y on the three ladies,-at each gaze a bow. But while his eyes were still lingeringly fixed on Cecilia, Lady Glen

again, my youth comes before me,-my early friend, Caroline Brotherton, now Lady Chillingly; our girlish walks with each other; wreath

k his seat beside Lady Glenalvon, and, as in duty bound, made the most flattering account of his She Baronet which

occupation; but her eyes and her thoughts are on Sir Peter. Why, my lady reader may guess. And oh, so flatteringly, so lovingly fixed! She thinks he has a most charming, intelligent, benignant countenance. She admires even his old-fashioned frock-coat, high neckcloth, and strapped trousers. She ve

o honour your father and your mother, even though they are not particularly genial to her: well, if you win that sort of girl as your wife think you have got a treasure. You have won a woman to whom Heaven has given the two best attributes,-intense feeling of love, intense sense of duty. What, my dear lady reader, I say of one sex, I say of another, though in a less degree; because a girl who marries becomes of her husband's family, and the man does not become of his wife's. Still I

of Kenelm?" ask

hat he was going forth on rambles into 'fresh woods and pastures n

lvon. "I hope nothing can have happen

er work, and lo

"I am in this secret. He has challenged the champi

tly: "I should not be in the least

llingly is doing some kindness to othe

chair nearer to Cecilia's. Lady Glenalvon, charmed t

aordinary ease; and he did not quit the house till he had engaged her father, Mrs. Campion, and herself

, very superior to young men in general. Cecilia was cordially polite to Kenelm's cousin. Altogether that was a very happy day for Sir Peter. He enjoyed greatly his dinner at the Garrick, where he met some old acquaintance and was presented to some new "celebrities." He observed that Gordon stood

, only the son of a

kinsfolk, however distant. Clever fellow,

he throat. "Ah, if some one as e

should he not be proud of any member of the family who could irradiate the antique obscurit

Prince of Wales's Theatre, where Sir Peter was infinitely delighted with an admirable little comedy by Mr. Robertson, admirably placed on the stage by Marie

a debt, and I am now, thank

start of surprise,

made such a mistake would puzzle me, if I did not remember that he had a quarrelsome temper. Temper is a thing that often dominates cleverness,-an uncontrollable thing; and allowances must be made for it. Not being of a quarrelsome temper myself (the Chillinglys are a placid race), I did not make the allowance for your father's differing, and (for a Chillingly) abnormal, c

t that any generous intentions on your part would be finally abandoned. It has been a grateful surprise to me that I have been so kindly and cordially received into the family by Kenelm and yourself. Pray obli

o your poor father's error: but whatever Kenelm hereafter does with his property, it is nothing to you, and is not to be counted upon. Even the title dies with Kenelm if he has no son. On resettling the estate, however, sums of money have been realized which, as I stated before, enable me to discharge the debt which Kenelm heartily agr

insman's hand, and, despite of all struggles, pressed his lips on it. "I must thank you; I must give some vent to my emotions,

would be more use to you now than te

. And Kenelm consent

ts! urg

tural ambition for a clever young fellow. I don't presume to dictate politics to you. I hear

or my part I am anyth

working class, calmly and quietly, without any violence, and deprecating violence: but saying, perhaps very truly, that the people to be robbed might not like it, and might offer violence; in which case woe betide them; it was they who would be g

: I despise th

et revolutionary mea

iame

lever, very subtle, which committed him to nothing, beyond the wisdom of guiding popular opinions into right directions: what might be right directions he did not defi

e never seen Exmundham, and the home of the race from which I sprang has a deep interest for time. Will you allow me to spend a few days

attered. "Come, my dear boy, by all means; you will have a hearty welcome. By the by, Travers an

it up the young

lightly acquainted with Mr. Travers, but I like

say you to

ry well in her way. But I don't talk w

like your co

e like him in

ct model of a son that the world can exhibit." Delivering himself of this burst of parental fondness, Sir Peter shook hands with Gordon, and walke

ing his position. He had previously fixed his thoughts on Cecilia Travers. I will do him the justice to say not from mercenary motives alone, but not certainly with the impetuous ardour of youthful love. He thought her exactly fitted to be the wife of an eminent public man, in person, acquirement, dignified yet popular manners. He esteemed her, he liked her, and then her fortune would add solidity to his position. In fact, he

ter's designs on that, young lady, he was much too prudent to confide his own to a kinsman of whose discretion he had strong misgivings. It was enough for him at present that way was opened f

desk writing brief notes of business, or of pleasure, while Sir Peter did justice to lamb cutlets and grilled chicken. But he looked up from his task, with raised eyebrows, when Sir Peter, after a somewhat discursive account of his v

u have? I thought you wished Kenelm to marry

ou don't suppose that Miss Travers prefers him to Kenelm, or that he has

ring himself that you have thrown in his way. However, it is no affair of mine; and though on the whole I like Kenelm better than Gordon, still I like Gor

uch uncomfortable things. But, in the first place,

t's a bad sign,"

not hear him

allows no room for a rival. However, I shall not forget your hint, but keep a sharp lookout

et away I will run down to you for a day or two. Perhaps in that case you can ask Lady Glenalvon. I like her, and she likes

ugham. Not a word would he say more about Gordon, and Sir Peter shrank from telling him about the L20,000. Chillingly Mivers was perhaps the last person to whom Sir Peter would be