Chapter 40 - Page 2

commended, thanked, God-blessed, and bade good-night by one who carried a€˜Sira€™ before his name, and wrote himself MP to boot, was something for a porter. He withdrew with much humility and reverence. Sir John followed his late visitor into the dressing- room, and sitting in his easy-chair before the fire, and moving it so that he could see him as he stood, hat in hand, beside the door, looked at him from head to foot.

The old face, calm and pleasant as ever; the complexion, quite juvenile in its bloom and clearness; the same smile; the wonted precision and elegance of dress; the white, well-ordered teeth; the delicate hands; the composed and quiet manner; everything as it used to be: no mark of age or passion, envy, hate, or discontent: all unruffled and serene, and quite delightful to behold.

He wrote himself MPa€"but how? Why, thus. It was a proud familya€" more proud, indeed, than wealthy. He had stood in danger of arrest; of bailiffs, and a jaila€"a vulgar jail, to which the common people with small incomes went. Gentlemen of ancient houses have no privilege of exemption from such cruel lawsa€"unless they are of one great house, and then they have. A proud man of his stock and kindred had the means of sending him there. He offereda€"not indeed to pay his debts, but to let him sit for a close borough until his own son came of age, which, if he lived, would come to pass in twenty years. It was quite as good as an Insolvent Act, and infinitely more genteel. So Sir John Chester was a member of Parliament.

But how Sir John? Nothing so simple, or so easy. One touch with a sword of state, and the transformation was effected. John Chester, Esquire, MP, attended courta€"went up with an addressa€"headed a deputation. Such elegance of manner, so many graces of deportment, such powers of conversation, could never pass unnoticed. Mr was too common for such merit. A man so gentlemanly should have beena€" but Fortune is capriciousa€"born a Duke: just as some dukes should have been born labourers. He caught the fancy of the king, knelt down a grub, and rose a butterfly. John Chester, Esquire, was knighted and became Sir John.

a€˜I thought when you left me this evening, my esteemed acquaintance,a€™ said Sir John after a pretty long silence, a€˜that you intended to return with all despatch?a€™

a€˜So I did, master.a€™

a€˜And so you have?a€™ he retorted, glancing at his watch. a€˜Is that what you would say?a€™

Instead of replying, Hugh changed the leg on which he leant, shuffled his cap from one hand to the other, looked at the ground, the wall, the ceiling, and finally at Sir John himself; before whose pleasant face he lowered his eyes again, and fixed them on the floor.

a€˜And how have you