“Sure you told me this minute that you didn't see the Queen,” said the old man, peevishly. “Very true, sir, I did not, but I saw her Minister. I placed before him the services I had done his party, my long sacrifices of time, labor, and money in their cause; I showed him that I was a man who had established the strongest claim upon the Government.” “And wouldn't be refused,--wouldn't be denied, eh, Davy?” “Just so, sir. I intimated that also, so far as it was prudent to do so.” “The stronger the better, Davy; weak words show a faint heart. 'Tis knowing the cost of your enmity will make men your friends.” “I believe, sir, that in such dealings my own tact is my safest guide. It is not to-day or yesterday that I have made acquaintance with men of this order. For upwards of two-and-twenty years I have treated Ministers as my equals.” The old man heard this proud speech with an expression of almost ecstasy on his features, and grasped his son's hand in a delight too great for words. “Ay, father, I have made our name a cognate number in this kingdom's arithmetic. Men talk of Davenport Dunn as one recognized in the land.” “'Tis true; 'tis true as the Bible!” muttered the old man. “And what is more,” continued the other, warming with his theme, “what I have done I have done for all time. I have laid the foundations deep, that the edifice might endure. A man of inferior ambition would have been satisfied with wealth, and the enjoyments it secures; he might have held a seat in Parliament, sat on the benches beside the Minister, mayhap have held some Lordship of This or Under-Secretaryship of that, selling his influence ere it matured, as poor farmers sell their crops standing,--but I preferred the' patient path. I made a waiting race of it, father, and see what the prize is to be. Your son is to be a peer of Great Britain!” The old man's mouth opened wide, and his eyes glared with an almost unnatural brightness, as, catching his son with both arms, he tried to embrace him. “There, dear father,--there!” said Dunn, calmly; “you must not over-excite yourself.” “It's too much, Davy,--it's too much; I'll never live to see it.” “That you will, sir,--for a time, indeed, I was half disposed to stipulate that the title should be conferred upon yourself. It would have thus acquired another generation in date, but I remembered how indisposed you might feel to all the worry and care the mere forms of assuming it might cost you. You would not like to leave this old spot, besides--” “No, on no account,” said the old man, pensively. “And then I thought that your great pride, after all, would be to hear of me, your own Davy, as Lord Castle-dunn.” “I thought it would be plain Dunn,--Lord Dunn,” said the old man, quickly. “If the name admitted of it, I 'd have preferred it so.” “And what is there against the name?” asked he angrily.