He had not much sympathy with the family ambitions. He thought that as they had wealth enough to live well and handsomely, a good station in the world, and not any one detracting element from their good luck, either as regarded character or health, it was downright ingratitude to go in search of disappointments and defeats. It was, to his thinking, like a ship with plenty of sea-room rushing madly on to her ruin amongst the breakers. “I think Nelly is of my own mind,” said he, “but who can say how long she will continue to be so? these stupid notions of being great folk will get hold of her at last. The high-minded Marion and that great genius Temple are certain to prevail in the end, and I shall always be a splendid example to point at and show the melancholy consequences of degenerate tastes and ignoble ambitions.” The sharp trot of a horse on the gravel road beside him startled him in his musings, and the pony-carriage whisked rapidly by; Augustus driving and Julia at his side. She was laughing. Her merry laugh rang out above the brisk jingle of horse and harness, and to the poor sailor it sounded like the knell of all his hopes. “What a confounded fool I was not to remember I had an elder brother,” said he, bitterly. That he added something inaudible about the perfidious nature of girls is possibly true, but not being in evidence, it is not necessary to record it. Let us turn from the disconsolate youth to what is certes a prettier picture--the croquet lawn behind the house, where the two sisters, with the accomplished Temple, were engaged at a game. “I hope, girls,” said he, in one of his very finest drawls, “the future head of house and hopes is not going to make a precious fool of himself.” “You mean with the curate's sister,” said Marion, with a saucy toss of her head. “I scarcely think he could be so absurd.” “I can't see the absurdity,” broke in Ellen. “I think a duke might make her a duchess, and no great condescension in the act.” “Quite true, Nelly,” said Temple; “that's exactly what a duke might do; but Mr. Bramleigh cannot. When you are at the top of the ladder, there's nothing left for you but to come down again; but the man at the bottom has to try to go up.” “But why must there be a ladder at all, Temple?” asked she, eagerly. “Is n't that speech Nelly all over?” cried Marion, haughtily. “I hope it is,” said Ellen, “if it serves to convey what I faithfully believe,--that we are great fools in not enjoying a very pleasant lot in life instead of addressing ourselves to ambitions far and away beyond us.” “And which be they?” asked Temple, crossing his arms over his mallet, and standing like a soldier on guard. “To be high and titled, or if not titled, to be accepted among that class, and treated as their equals in rank and condition.”