His father shrugged his shoulders. ‘It is not our business to suppose that. I hope it never will be the business of any one, at least seriously. This is a great country, and it has become great by its aristocracy.’ ‘You think, then, our sovereigns did nothing for our greatness,--Queen Elizabeth, for example, of whose visit to Montacute you are so proud?’ ‘They performed their part.’ ‘And have ceased to exist. We may have performed our part, and may meet the same fate.’ ‘Why, you are talking liberalism!’ ‘Hardly that, my dear father, for I have not expressed an opinion.’ ‘I wish I knew what your opinions were, my dear boy, or even your wishes.’ ‘Well, then, to do my duty.’ ‘Exactly; you are a pillar of the State; support the State.’ ‘Ah! if any one would but tell me what the State is,’ said Lord Montacute, sighing. ‘It seems to me your pillars remain, but they support nothing; in that case, though the shafts may be perpendicular, and the capitals very ornate, they are no longer props, they are a ruin.’ ‘You would hand us over, then, to the ten-pounders?’ ‘They do not even pretend to be a State,’ said Lord Montacute; ‘they do not even profess to support anything; on the contrary, the essence of their philosophy is, that nothing is to be established, and everything is to be left to itself.’ ‘The common sense of this country and the fifty pound clause will carry us through,’ said the duke. ‘Through what?’ inquired his son. ‘This--this state of transition,’ replied his father. ‘A passage to what?’ ‘Ah! that is a question the wisest cannot answer.’ ‘But into which the weakest, among whom I class myself, have surely a right to inquire.’ ‘Unquestionably; and I know nothing that will tend more to assist you in your researches than acting with practical men.’ ‘And practising all their blunders,’ said Lord Montacute. ‘I can conceive an individual who has once been entrapped into their haphazard courses, continuing in the fatal confusion to which he has contributed his quota; but I am at least free, and I wish to continue so.’ ‘And do nothing?’ ‘But does it follow that a man is infirm of action because he declines fighting in the dark?’ ‘And how would you act, then? What are your plans? Have you any?’ ‘I have.’ ‘Well, that is satisfactory,’ said the duke, with animation. ‘Whatever they are, you know you may count upon my doing everything that is possible to forward your wishes. I know they cannot be unworthy ones, for I believe, my child, you are incapable of a thought that is not good or great.’ ‘I wish I knew what was good and great,’ said Lord Montacute; ‘I would struggle to accomplish it.’ ‘But you have formed some views; you have some plans. Speak to me of them, and without reserve; as to a friend, the most affectionate, the most devoted.’