"He is such a good man!" answered Lady Westhope; "he has such excellent principles--he is so sure to make a true and faithful husband, that in the long-run I should hope no woman, who had herself good principles, could fail to be happy with him." Lady Westhope sighed, and Mr. Wroxholme, who had by this time heard and seen somewhat more of his host, felt that poor Lady Westhope spoke as one who had suffered from the absence of these qualities in her husband. CHAPTER V. Ever still must I adore thee: Though wide seas between us roll, Each fond thought shall hover o'er thee, And thine image fill my soul. Morning breaking o'er the ocean Will thine opening graces wear, And with evening's last devotion I will breathe thy name in prayer. _Unpublished Poems._ Upon leaving Cransley, Captain De Molton had hastened to town. He there found his father, who having left the rest of the family at Brighton, had also repaired to London for the purpose of effecting the proposed exchange. Lord Cumberworth was preparing to enter a hackney-coach, which waited to carry him to Brookes's, where he meant to dine and to solace himself with a quiet game at tolerably high whist, when he was startled at the unexpected appearance of his son. "Why, Francis!" he exclaimed, "I thought you were gone to Cransley for a fortnight! What brings you here?" "I wished to see you, father, and to talk to you seriously concerning my prospects in life. You are come up about my exchange, are you not?" "Yes--and I hope I shall be able to settle it all comfortably. Your mother has been in one of her nervous ways at the bare thoughts of your going to India." "I think I ought to go, father." "Why! which way does the wind blow now? Why the d--l did you not tell me so sooner? They have all been pestering me to come to town, and to leave no stone unturned to save you from this banishment, as you all called it; and now I have taken the trouble of coming, you change your mind! Upon my word, this is very inconsiderate. But, after all, I myself do not like your going into such an unhealthy climate, and I would rather keep you at home if I could. If you are to go into danger, let it be where some honour and renown are to be obtained. There is no glory in dying of a liver complaint, as yellow as a guinea." "I am very sorry, my dear father, to have given you so much unnecessary trouble, but I have fully made up my mind to sail with my regiment." "And pray, Master Francis, what has worked this wondrous revolution in your mind?" "Why, father, to tell you the truth, happiness is out of the question for me; and therefore I had rather do whatever will make me least burthensome to my family, and also take me out of the way for a time." "And why do you want to lie perdue? You have not been running in debt, have you?" "No, father; I am too well aware what are your circumstances."