"Do not curse them, my good Rodney," said Lord Oldborough, smiling. "Poor
people, they are not ungrateful, only mistaken. Those who mislead them are
to blame. The English are a fine people. Even an English mob, you see, is
generous, and just, as far as it knows."

Lord Oldborough was sound asleep this night, before any other individual in
the house had finished talking of the dangers he had escaped.

The civil and military courage shown by the minister in the sudden attack
upon his character and person were such as to raise him again at once to
his former height in public esteem. His enemies were obliged to affect
admiration. The Greenwich party, foiled in this attempt, now disavowed it.
News of a victory effaced the memory of the late disappointment. Stocks
rose--addresses for a change of ministry were quashed--addresses of thanks
and congratulation poured in--Lord Oldborough gave them to Mr. Temple to
answer, and kept the strength of his attention fixed upon the great objects
which were essential to the nation and the sovereign he served.

Mr. Falconer saw that the storm had blown over, the darkness was past--Lord
Oldborough, firm and superior, stood bright in power, and before him the
commissioner bent more obsequious, more anxious than ever. Anxious he might
well be--unhappy father! the life, perhaps, of one of his sons, his honour,
certainly, at stake--the fortune of another--his existence ruined! And what
hopes of propitiating him, who had so suffered by the favour he had already
shown, who had been betrayed by one of the family and disgraced by another.
The commissioner's only hope was in the recollection of the words, "I pity
you from my soul, sir," which burst from Lord Oldborough even at the moment
when he had most reason to be enraged against Colonel Falconer. Following
up this idea, and working on the generous compassion, of which, but for