"
"I don't believe, Whaley, thou understands what a sorrow this is to
me."
"Don't I? I've got a heart yet, Hallam, though thou'd happen think
I've varry little use for it at eighty-nine years old; but I'll tell
thee what, instead o' looking at t' troubles thou hes, just tak' a
look at them thou hesn't. I nivver gave thee a bit o' advice better
worth seven-and-sixpence than that is."
"What does ta mean?"
"I'll tell thee. Thou's fretting because Antony wants to go into
business, and to get hold o' as much gold and honor as iver he can
put his hands on. Now suppose he wanted to spend a' t' money he could
get hold of, and to drag thy old name through t' mire o' jockey fields
and gambling houses, and t' filth that lies at t' month o' hell.
Wouldn't that be worse?"
"Ay, it would."
"And they who hanker after an earldom'll be varry like to pick up some
good things on t' road to it. When ta can't mak' t' wind suit thee,
turn round and sail wi' t' wind."
"Thou sees, Whaley, I hev saved a good bit o' money, and I gave Antony
t' best education Oxford could hand over for it; and I reckoned on
him getting into Parliament, and makkin' a bit o' a stir there, and
building up t' old name wi' a deal o' honor."
"Varry good; but _strike t' nail that'll go!_ What is t' use o'
hitting them that will only bend and break i' thy hand, and get mebbe
t' weight o' t' blow on thy own finger-ends.
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