lordship sighed again as deeply as before; then spoke, or rather led to
the subject of general politics, of which Mr. Percy gave his opinions with
freedom and openness, yet without ever forgetting the respect due to Lord
Oldborough's situation. His lordship seemed sensible of this attention,
sometimes nodded, and sometimes smiled, as Mr. Percy spoke of public men or
measures; but when he expressed any sentiment of patriotism, or of public
virtue, Lord Oldborough took to his snuff-box, shook and levelled the
snuff; and if he listened, listened as to words superfluous and irrelevant.
When Mr. Percy uttered any principle favourable to the liberty of the
press, or of the people, his lordship would take several pinches of snuff
rapidly, to hide the expression of his countenance; if the topics were
continued, his averted eyes and compressed lips showed disapprobation, and
the difficulty he felt in refraining from reply. From reply, however, he
did absolutely refrain; and after a pause of a few moments, with a smile,
in a softer and lower voice than his usual tone, he asked Mr. Percy some
questions about his family, and turned the conversation again to domestic
affairs;--expressed surprise, that a man of Mr. Percy's talents should live
in such absolute retirement; and seeming to forget what he had said himself
but half an hour before, of the pains and dangers of ambition, and all that
Mr. Percy had said of his love of domestic life, appeared to take it for
granted that Mr. Percy would be glad to shine in public, if opportunity
were not wanting. Upon this supposition, his lordship dexterously pointed
out ways by which he might distinguish himself; threw out assurances of his
own good wishes, compliments to his talents; and, in short, sounded his
heart, still expecting to find corruption or ambition at the bottom. But
none was to be found. Lord Oldborough was convinced of it--and surprised.
Perhaps his esteem for Mr. Percy's understanding fell some degrees--he
considered him as an eccentric person, acting from unaccountable motives;
but still he respected him as that rarest of all things in a politician's
eye--a really honest independent man. He believed also that Mr. Percy had