"Lo! our opinion is a child so dear, We love its prattle, though a simple note." PETER PINDAR. From the conversation which was mentioned as having taken place between Mr. John Martindale and his young relative in the last chapter, Mr. Philip derived a very considerable degree of satisfaction. He felt very confident that there was no danger that he should lose the property which was destined conditionally to devolve to him. He was most happy in being relieved from the claims of the money-lenders, and being able to call the property which he should receive with Miss Sampson his own. There was still, however, some little alloy in the pleasure that he enjoyed in these thoughts. He was by his circumstances almost excluded from all notoriety, and deprived of those very pleasures for which wealth and rank were in his estimation desirable. The constitution too of Miss Sampson's mind was not such as could render retirement delightful and desirable; and even had her mind been ever so well informed, or her disposition ever so reflective and intellectual, those things would not have afforded much interest to the Hon. Philip Martindale. At the first moment, when Mr. Martindale the elder announced his designs of liberality towards the young gentleman, Philip felt much delighted; and it was indeed a great pleasure to be relieved from the demands of his creditors. All these matters Philip thought it desirable to state to Lord Martindale, knowing that they must reach his ear by some channel, and thinking it most desirable that the information should come from himself. Lord Martindale, it seemed, was not ignorant of these circumstances, so far at least as concerned his son's transactions with money-lenders, and the occasion which rendered these transactions necessary. Here was another mortification; for Philip had a feeling of regard for his parents, and was concerned at what gave them pain. Lady Martindale had long and deeply felt the unpleasantness of dependence on the caprices and whims of Mr. John Martindale; and the more frequently the subject recurred to her thoughts, the more did she regret the vanity which induced them to aspire after nobility.