were all self-educated, but surely a man can't have a worse chance
because he has learned something. Look at old Beilby with a seat in
Parliament, and a property worth two or three hundred thousand pounds!
When he was my age he had nothing but his weekly wages."

"I don't know whether Mr. Beilby is a very happy man or a very good
man," said Mary.

"I don't know, either," said Harry; "but I do know that he has thrown a
single arch over a wider span of water than ever was done before, and
that ought to make him happy." After saying this in a tone of high
authority, befitting his dignity as a fellow of his college, Harry
Clavering went out, leaving his mother and sisters to discuss the
subject, which to two of them was all-important. As to Mary, she had
hopes of her own, vested in the clerical concerns of a neighboring
parish.




Chapter III

Lord Ongar



On the next morning Harry Clavering rode over to Stratton, thinking much
of his misery as he went. It was all very well for him, in the presence
of his own family to talk of his profession as the one subject which was
to him of any importance; but he knew very well himself that he was only