The specimen of that day had almost made Mrs. Ponsonby fear that there was nothing to understand, and that only dear Aunt Kitty's affection could perceive anything but amiable folly, and it was not much better when the young gentleman reappeared, looking very debonnaire, and, sitting down beside Mrs. Frost, said, in a voice meant for her alone--'Henry IV; Part II., the insult to Chief Justice Gascoigne. My father will presently enter and address you: 'O that it could be proved That some night-tripping fairy had exchanged In cradle-cloths our children as they lay,-- Call'd yours Fitzjocelyn--mine, Frost Dynevor!' 'For shame, Louis! I shall have to call you Fitzjocelyn! You are behaving very ill.' 'Insulting the English constitution in the person of seven squires.' 'Don't, my dear! It was the very thing to vex your father that you should have put yourself in such a position.' 'Bearding the Northwold bench with a groundsel plume and a knitting-needle: 'With a needle for a sword, and a thimble for a hat, Wilt thou fight a traverse with the Castle cat?' The proper champion in such a cause, since 'What cat's averse to fish?'' 'No, Louis dear,' said his aunt, struggling like a girl to keep her countenance; 'this is no time for nonsense. One would think you had no feeling for your father.' 'My dear aunt, I can't go to gaol like Prince Hal. I do assure you, I did not assault the bench with the knitting-pins. What am I to do?' 'Not set at nought your father's displeasure.' 'I can't help it,' said he, almost sadly, though half smiling. 'What would become of me if I tried to support the full weight? Interfering with institutions, ruining reputation, blasting bulwarks, patronizing poachers, vituperating venerated--' 'Quite true,' cried Aunt Catherine, with spirit. 'You know you had no business there, lecturing a set of men old enough to be your grandfathers, and talking them all to death, no doubt.' 'Well, Aunt Kitty, if oppression maddens the wise, what must it do to the foolish?' 'If you only allow that it was foolish--' 'No; I had rather know whether it was wrong. I believe I was too eager, and not respectful enough to the old squire: and, on reflection, it might have been a matter of obedience to my father, not to interfere with the prejudices of true-born English magistrates. Yes, I was wrong: I would have owned it sooner, but for the shell he fired over my head. And for the rest, I don't know how to repent of having protested against tyranny.' There was something redeeming in the conclusion, and it was a comfort, for it was impossible to retain anger with one so gently, good-humouredly polite and attentive.