The property in Ireland is still mine, but there's no
place on it."
"Indeed!"
"There was a house, but my father allowed it to tumble down. It's in
Tipperary; not at all a desirable country to live in."
"Oh dear, no! Don't they murder the people?"
"It's about five thousand a year, and out of that my mother has half for
her life."
"What an excellent family arrangement," said Lizzie. There was so long a
pause made between each statement that she was forced to make some reply.
"You see, for a peer, the fortune is very small indeed."
"But then you have a salary, don't you?"
"At present I have; but no one can tell how long that may last."
"I'm sure it's for everybody's good that it should go on for ever so many
years," said Lizzie.
"Thank you," said Lord Fawn. "I'm afraid, however, there are a great many
people who don't think so. Your cousin Greystock would do anything on
earth to turn us out."
"Luckily my cousin Frank has not much power," said Lizzie. And in saying
it she threw into her tone, and into her countenance, a certain amount of
contempt for Frank as a man and as a politician, which was pleasant to
Lord Fawn.
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