“'--present allowance. The pressure of so many bad years, the charges of aiding the people to emigrate, and the cost of this confounded war, have borne very heavily upon us all, and condemned us to economies that we never dreamed of. For myself, I have withdrawn my subscription from several charities, and will neither give a cup at the Broome Regatta, nor my accustomed ten pounds towards the race ball. I wish I could impress you with the necessity of similar sacrifices: these are times when every man must take his share of the national burdens, and reduce his habits of indulgence in conformity with national exigency.'” “It 's all very fine to talk of cutting your coat, but when you have n't got any cloth at all, Master Davis--” “Well, I suppose you must take a little of your neighbor's--if it don't suit you to go naked. This here noble Lord writes 'like a book;' but when he says, 'I 'm not a-goin' to stump it,' there 's no more to be said. You don't want to see the horse take his gallops that you know is to be scratched on the day of the race,--that's a mere piece of idle curiosity, ain't it?” “Quite true, Grog.” “Well, it's clear he won't He says he won't, and that's enough.--'We have come abroad for no other reason than economy, and are only looking for a place inexpensive enough for our reduced means.' What's his income?” “Better than twelve thousand a year.” “Has he debts?” “Well, I suppose he may; everybody has.” “Ay,” said Grog, dryly, and read on.--“'The Continent, however, is not the cheap place it once was,--rent, servants, markets, all are dearer,--and I 'm quite satisfied you find Ireland much less expensive than any other part of Europe,'--which means, 'Stay there,'--eh?” “No, I don't take it that way,” said Beecher, reddening. “But I do, and I 'll maintain it,” reiterated Grog. “He's a knowing one, that same noble Viscount; he's not the flat you always thought he was. He can square his own book, he can.--As to any prospect of places, I tell you, frankly, there is none. These competitive humbugs they call examinations do certainly stop a number of importunate people, but the vigilance of Parliament exercises a most overbearing tyranny on the ministers; and then the press! Now, we might tide over the House, Annesley, but the press would surely ruin all. If you were gazetted to-day Consul to the least-known South American republic,--commissioner for the sale of estates in the planet Saturn,--those fellows would have a leader on you to-morrow, showing what you did fifteen years ago at Ascot,--all your outlawries, all your actions in bankruptcy. They 'd begin saying, 'Is this the notorious Hon. Annesley Beecher? or are we mistaken in supposing that the gentleman here referred to is the same lately mentioned in our columns as the friend and associate of the still more famous Grog Davis?'”