With this resolution he returned home; as he thought that it might be more advisable to communicate his intention to the parties concerned by letter than by word of mouth. Probably his lordship might imagine that, if thus Mr Primrose were made acquainted with the magnificent offer that awaited his daughter's acceptance, paternal pride would be gratified, and paternal authority might be added to other motives, inducing the young lady's compliance. Lord Spoonbill was by no means fastidious as to the manner in which he gained his object, provided that the object was gained. His lordship dined that day at home. During dinner he was silent, and looked almost sulky. The Earl and Countess inferred from these looks that their hopeful son was on the eve of saying or doing something not very agreeable to his parents; for he most usually prefaced an act of opposition to their will by putting himself into an ill-humour. This is a refined piece of domestic tactics. None however but spoiled children can use it with proper dexterity and complete success. When a wife wishes to persuade her husband out of his senses, or to guide him against his better judgment, her prelude is generally an extraordinary degree of sweetness, and her preface is made of witching smiles; and then the husband thinks that it would be cruel to convert such smiles into tears, and he passively yields to the power of the silent logic of the laughing eye. But the policy of a great overgrown booby is different. The spoiled blockhead knows that no art of his can give extra loveliness to his looks in the eyes of his fond parents. His own precious numskull is to them the ne plus ultra of human excellence. But if that sweet face is darkened by a frown, and if the dear pet is sulky, cross-grained, and ill-humoured, then anything and everything must be conceded to bring him back to his good-humour again. "Spoonbill, are you unwell?" said Lord Smatterton. "No," replied Spoonbill in a style of sulky abruptness, which Tony Lumpkin himself might have envied. "You seem to be quite out of spirits to-day:" said the Countess, in one of her most agreeable and winning tones. "One cannot be always laughing and talking," was the uncourteous and ungrateful reply. Then followed a long pause. The Earl and Countess scarcely dared to speak to each other, and Lord Spoonbill pertinaciously held his peace. Now such a state of things cannot last long; it is absolutely unbearable. Very soon after the servants had left the room, as the young man's silence and sulkiness yet continued, Lord Smatterton, who thought himself a bit of a politician, gave her ladyship a hint to indulge them with her absence. When they were alone, the Earl of Smatterton thus addressed his hopeful son: "Spoonbill, I fear that something is preying upon your mind. May I be permitted to know what it is that disturbs you?"