“Why, as for war, it seems to make a pretty sort of bustle that rather brings people to the shop than keeps them away, and that will help us to pay our share of the new taxes, if we only keep to the shop, instead of fancying to be fine gentlemen. But I am of your mind about the minister. If the people are eager for war,—and full of hope—of—of——” “Ah! of what? What is the best that can come of it?” “O, every true Englishman hopes to win, you know. But if they will go headlong into war, they have no right to blame the minister, as if it was all his doing that they have to pay heavy taxes.” “Yet he ought to know better than to judge of the people by a parliament that claps its hands the more the more burdens are laid on their children’s children. He ought to question their right to tax posterity in any such way. I cannot see how it is at all more just for us to make a war which our grandchildren must pay for, than for our allies to make a war which the English must pay for.” “I am sure we are paying as fast as we can,” replied Mr. Farrer. “It has kept me awake more nights than one, I can tell you,—the thinking what will come of these new taxes on many things that we sell. As for the debt, it has got so high, it can get little higher; that is one comfort. To think that in my father’s young days, it was under seven hundred thousand pounds; and now, in my day, it is near three hundred millions!” “What makes you so sure it will soon stop, father?” “That it can’t go on without ruining the nation, son. I suppose you don’t think any minister on earth would do that. No, no. Three hundred millions is debt enough, in all conscience, for any nation. No minister will venture beyond that.” “Not unless the people choose. And I, for one, will do all in my power to prevent its proceeding further.” “And pray how?” “That depends on what your plans are for me, sir.” “True enough. Well, eat away now, and let us see whether book-learning spoils buttered toast. Come, tell us what you think of us, after all the fine folks you have been amongst.” Jane was astonished that her father could speak in this way to the gentleman in black, who, however simple in his manners, and accommodating in his conversation, was quite unlike every other person present in his quiet tone, and gentle way of talking. She could not have asked him what he thought of the place and the party. Henry replied that he was, as he had said, much struck by his sister’s looking so well; and as for Morgan, she was not a day older since the time when he used to run away with her Welsh beaver—— “And make yourself look like a girl, with your puny pale face,” interrupted Michael.