He himself, however, had little wish to commence the career his father proposed. "At present, at all events, let me enjoy Texford, and yours and Julia's society, mother, and when my father vacates his seat for Mumbleton it will be time enough for me to decide whether or not I wish to occupy it," he said to Lady Castleton when she spoke to him of his father's wish. When Sir Ralph arrived he did not appear to remark how ill his son looked; he was so occupied with politics and his various projects that he troubled himself about little else. When his wife tried to draw his attention to Algernon his only reply was-- "Yes, he reminds me very much of myself when I was of the same age that he is. I was slight and tall, and I suspect that my cheeks were paler than his, although I was accustomed to more exercise than he indulges in, and was fonder of riding and field sports. If he would take to hunting and shooting he would soon get round, and be well able to go through a political campaign in London." The time of mourning for the old baronet was over. Several guests had arrived, others had been invited, and whatever some of the tenants might have thought of the exactions, as they considered them, which the new baronet had imposed, there appeared every probability that Texford would become a far more lively and sociable mansion than it had been during the latter years of Sir Reginald's life. CHAPTER TWENTY. YOUNG MILES GAFFIN. Sir Ralph and his family had been for some time settled at Texford, when the dame brought the news, gained from her usual source of information, Mr Groocock, that Mr Harry with another officer were daily expected at the hall. "Mr Groocock says that Mr Harry has done all sorts of brave things, and that he will be captain himself before long," observed the dame to her husband and May, who had just then come in from Downside to pay her a visit. "It seems but the other day that he was a young midshipman, and now to think that he is old enough to be captain of a big ship, though he cannot be _very_ old either." "I have known captains of nineteen," observed Adam; "and though they had not much experience, when it came to real work they did it as well as their elders and better than many. It's not so much what age a man is as what is in him, and that will show itself even though he has not got a hair on his lip." "Mr Groocock says there are to be grand doings at the hall in honour of Mr Harry's return from sea," continued the dame. "All the tenantry are to be invited, and the labourers and tradesmen and workpeople from Morbury, and the fishermen too from Hurlston; and he made me promise to come and to bring my daughter, for he always calls you my daughter, May, and seems to forget what I once told him, for I am sure I did tell him all about you, though in truth you are my daughter, if a mother's love can make you one."