“You are rich in gifts more precious than money; and you have the quintessence of all wit in that property that renders you suggestive; it is like what chemists call latent heat. But to return to Mrs. Sewell: she met my son at the Cape, and reports favorably of his health and prospects.” “Poor fellow! what a banishment he must feel it!” “I wonder, sir, how many of us go through life without sacrifices! She says that he goes much into the world, and is already very popular in the society of the place,--a great and happy change to a man who had suffered his indolence and self-indulgence to master him. Had he remained at home, I might have been able to provide for him. George Ogle's place is vacant, and I am determined to exercise my right of appointment.” “First Registrar, was he not?” “Yes; a snug berth for incapacity,--one thousand a year. Ogle made more of it by means we shall not inquire into, but which shall not be repeated.” “You ought to give it to your grandson,” said Haire, bluntly. “You ought to know better than to say so, sir,” said the Judge, with a stern severity. “It is to men like myself the public look for example and direction, and it would be to falsify all the teaching of my life if I were to misuse my patronage. Come up early on Saturday morning, and go over the lists with me. There are one hundred and twenty-three applicants, backed by peers, bishops, members of Parliament, and men in power.” “I don't envy you your patronage.” “Of course not, sir. The one hundred and twenty-two disappointed candidates would present more terror to a mind like yours than any consciousness of a duty fulfilled would compensate for; but I am fashioned of other stuff.” “Well, I only hope it may be a worthy fellow gets it.” “If you mean worthy in what regards a devotion to the public service, I may possibly be able to assure you on that head.” “No, no; I mean a good fellow,--a true-hearted, honest fellow, to whom the salary will be a means of comfort and happiness.” “Sir, you ask far too much. Men in my station investigate fitness and capacity; they cannot descend to inquire how far the domestic virtues influence those whom they advance to office.” “You may drop me here: I am near home,” said Haire, who began to feel a little weary of being lectured. “You will not dine with me?” “Not to-day. I have some business this evening. I have a case to look over.” “Come up on Saturday, then,--come to breakfast; bring me any newspapers that treat of the appointment, and let us see if we cannot oppose this spirit of dictation they are so prone to assume; for I am resolved I will never name a man to office who has the Press for his patron.” “It may not be his fault.”