Soon after the family were settled at the Hills, they were surprised by a visit from Commissioner Falconer--_surprised_, because, though they knew that he had a certain degree of commonplace friendship for them as relations, yet they were aware that his regard was not independent of fortune, and they had never supposed that he would come to seek them in their retirement. After some general expressions of condolence on their losses, their change of situation, and the inconveniences to which a large family, bred up, as they had been, in affluence, must suffer in their present abode, he went out to walk with Mr. Percy, and he then began to talk over his own family affairs. With polite acknowledgment to Mr. Percy of the advantage he had derived from his introduction to Lord Oldborough, and with modestly implied compliments to his own address in turning that introduction to the best possible account, Mr. Falconer led to the subject on which he wanted to dilate. “You see, my dear Mr. Percy,” said he, “without vanity I may now venture to say, my plans for advancing my family have all succeeded; my sons have risen in the world, or rather have been pushed up, beyond my most sanguine hopes.” “I give you joy with all my heart,” said Mr. Percy. “But, my good sir, listen to me; your sons might have been in as advantageous situations, if you had not been too proud to benefit by the evidently favourable dispositions which Lord Oldborough shewed towards you and yours.” “Too proud! No, my friend, I assure you, pride never influenced my conduct--I acted from principle.” “So you are pleased to call it.--But we will not go back to the past--no man likes to acknowledge he has been wrong. Let us, if you please, look to the future. You know that you are now in a different situation from what you were formerly, when you could afford to follow your principles or your systems. Now, my dear sir, give me leave to tell you that it is your duty, absolutely your duty, to make use of your interest for your sons. There is not a man in England, who, if he chose it, might secure for his sons a better patron than you could.” “I trust,” replied Mr. Percy, “that I have secured for my sons what is better than a good patron--a good education.” “Both are best,” said Mr. Falconer. “Proud as you are, cousin Percy, you must allow this, when you look round and see who rises, and how.--And now we are by ourselves, let me ask you, frankly and seriously, why do not you try to establish your sons by patronage?” “Frankly and seriously, then, because I detest and despise the whole system of patronage.” “That’s very _strong_,” said Mr. Falconer. “And I am glad for your sake, and for the sake of your family, that nobody heard it but myself.”