"Very well, my Lord,--very well," said Dick, stiffly, and drawing on his
kid gloves; "we'll see if the aristocracy is always to ride over the free
choice of the people in this way. But the people are roused, my Lord.
The March of Enlightenment is commenced, the Schoolmaster is abroad, and
the British Lion--"

"Nobody here but ourselves, my dear Avenel. Is not this rather what you
call--humbug?"

Dick started, stared, coloured, and then burst out laughing, "Give us
your hand again, my Lord. You are a good fellow, that you are. And for
your sake--"

"You'll not oppose Egerton?"

"Tooth and nail, tooth and nail!" cried Dick, clapping his hands to his
ears, and fairly running out of the room.

There passed over Harley's countenance that change so frequent to it,--
more frequent, indeed, to the gay children of the world than those of
consistent tempers and uniform habits might suppose. There is many a man
whom we call friend, and whose face seems familiar to us as our own; yet,
could we but take a glimpse of him when we leave his presence, and he
sinks back into his chair alone, we should sigh to see how often the
smile on the frankest lip is but a bravery of the drill, only worn when
on parade.

What thoughts did the visit of Richard Avenel bequeath to Harley? It
were hard to define them.