ÆäÀÌÁö À̹ÌÁö
PDF
ePub

lofty room, with coved ceiling, painted with Roman trophies of helms and fasces, alternated with crossed fifes and fiddles, painted also.

ders.

Amsterdam manners," said Mr Darrell, slightly shrugging his shoul"Here a former race heard music, sung glees, and smoked from clay pipes. That age soon passed, unsuited to English energies, which are not to be united with Holland phlegm! But the view from the window-look out there. I wonder whether men in wigs and women in hoops enjoyed that. It is a mercy they did not clip those banks into a straight canal!"

The view was indeed lovely-the water looked so blue and so large and so limpid, woods and curving banks reflected deep on its peaceful bosom.

"How Vance would enjoy this!" cried Lionel. "It would come into a picture even better than the Thames."

"Vance-who is Vance ?" "The artist-a great friend of mine. Surely, sir, you have heard of him, or seen his pictures?"

"Himself and his pictures are since my time. Days tread down days for the Recluse, and he forgets that celebrities rise with their suns, to wane with their moons,

'Truditur dies die, Novæque pergunt interire lunæ.'

"All suns do not set-all moons do not wane!" cried Lionel, with blunt enthusiasm. "When Horace speaks elsewhere of the Julian star, he compares it to a moon-inter ignes minores-and surely Fame is not among the orbs which pergunt interire' hasten on to perish!"

"I am glad to see that you retain your recollection of Horace," said Mr Darrell, frigidly, and without continuing the allusion to celebrities, "the most charming of all poets to a man of my years, and" (he very drily added)" the most useful for popular quotation to men at any age.'

Then sauntering forth carelessly, he descended the sloping turf, came to the water-side, and threw himself at length on the grass-the wild thyme which he crushed sent up its bruised fragrance. There, resting his

face on his hand, Darrell gazed along the water in abstracted silence. Lionel felt that he was forgotten; but he was not hurt. By this time a strong and admiring interest for his cousin had sprung up within his breast-he would have found it difficult to explain why. But whosoever at that moment could have seen Guy Darrell's musing countenance, or whosoever, a few minutes before, could have heard the very sound of his voicesweetly, clearly full-each slow enunciation unaffectedly, mellowly distinct-making musical the homeliest roughest word, would have understood and shared the interest which Lionel could not explain. There are living human faces, which, independently of mere physical beauty, charm and enthral us more than the most perfect lineaments which Greek sculptor ever lent to a marble face: there are key-notes in the thrilling human voice, simply uttered, which can haunt the heart, rouse the passions, lull rampant multitudes, shake into dust the thrones of guarded kings, and effect more wonders than ever yet have been wrought by the most artful chorus or the deftest quill.

In a few minutes the swans from the further end of the water came sailing swiftly towards the bank on which Darrell reclined. He had evidently made friends with them, and they rested their white breasts close on the margin, seeking to claim his notice with a low hissing salutation, which, it is to be hoped, they change for something less sibilant in that famous song with which they depart this life.

[ocr errors]

Darrell looked up. "They come to be fed," said he, smooth emblems of the great social union. Affection is the offspring of utility. I am useful to them-they love me." He rose, uncovered, and bowed to the birds in mock courtesy: "Friends, I have no bread to give you."

LIONEL "Let me run in for some: I would be useful too." MR DARRELL.- "Rival-useful to my swans?"

LIONEL (tenderly).-" Or to you, sir."

He felt as if he had said too much, and without waiting for permission,

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]
[ocr errors][ocr errors]

4

[ocr errors]
[merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][ocr errors]

SRA

по

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

NI.

ver for

n. The

cet um

en and
the same

en the
to his
read-

sture was

i down

-sappeared.

[ocr errors]
[merged small][merged small][ocr errors]
[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

sumers. I will on to Mrf you wur me via our ress in VIL eru to ten for ou van mis temorrow." lany ans, inswer Lionel, every is rence : “I W speak to Mr Darrell nvseit." Lere's the hot water, ar. that

[ocr errors]

I have the 2onour to be Diacet it our commands." The door dosed, and ioner miceked us snapsack-other rousers, ter waistcoat ad le-trose vorn at the air, and once white. Alas, they had not since then passed to the care of the laundress. Other shoes-iourie-soled for walking. There was no help for it, but to appear at linner, attired as he had been before, in his ignt pedestrian jacket, morning waistcoat Howered with sprigs, and a fawncoloured nether man. Could it signify much-only two men? Could the grave Mr Darrell regard such trifles -Yes, if they intimated want of due respect.

"Durm! sed fit levius Patientia
Quicquid corrigere est nefas."

On descending the stairs, the same ustrates, high-bred domestic was in waiting to umsy show him into the library. Mr Darvasmall rell was there already, in the simple a entury ago but punctilious costume of a gentle

man who retains in seclusion the

kap three- habits customary in the world. At ested the first glance Lionel thought he saw the a slight cloud of displeasure on his there host's brow. He went up to Mr Darthe rell ingenuously, and apologised for

[graphic]

the deficiencies of his itinerant wardrobe. "Say the truth," said his host; "you thought you were coming to an old churl, with whom ceremony was misplaced."

"Indeed no!" exclaimed Lionel. "But but I have so lately left school."

"Your mother might have thought for you."

66

"I did not stay to consult her, indeed, sir; I hope you are not offended." No, but let me not offend you if I take advantage of my years and our relationship to remark that a young man should be careful not to let himself down below the measure of his own rank. If a king could bear to hear that he was only a ceremonial, a private gentleman may remember that there is but a ceremonial between himself and-his hatter!"

Lionel felt the colour mount his brow; but Darrell, pressing the distasteful theme no farther, and seemingly forgetting its purport, turned his remarks carelessly towards the weather. "It will be fair to-morrow; there is no mist on the hill yonder. Since you have a painter for a friend, perhaps you yourself are a draughtsman. There are some landscape-effects here which Fairthorn shall point out to you."

"I fear, Mr Darrell," said Lionel, looking down, "that to-morrow I must leave you."

"So soon? Well, I suppose the place must be very dull.”

“Not that—not that; but I have offended you, and I would not repeat the offence. I have not the 'ceremonial' necessary to mark me as a gentleman-either here or at home." "So! Bold frankness and ready wit command ceremonials," returned Darrell, and for the first time his lip wore a smile. "Let me present to you Mr Fairthorn," as the door, opening, showed a shambling awkward figure, with loose black knee-breeches and buckled shoes. The figure made a strange sidelong bow; and hurrying in a lateral course, like a crab sud

denly alarmed, towards a dim recess protected by a long table, sunk behind a curtain-fold, and seemed to vanish as a crab does amidst the shingles.

"Three minutes yet to dinner, and two before the letter-carrier goes," said the host, glancing at his watch. "Mr Fairthorn, will you write a note for me?" There was a mutter from behind the curtain. Darrell walked to the place, and whispered a few words, returned to the hearth, rang the bell.

"Another letter for the post, Mills: Mr Fairthorn is sealing it. You are looking at my bookshelves, Lionel. As I understand that your master spoke highly of you, I presume that you are fond of reading.'

[ocr errors]

"I think so, but I am not sure," answered Lionel, whom his cousin's conciliatory words had restored to ease and good-humour.

"You mean, perhaps, that you like reading, if you may choose your own books."

"Or rather if I may choose my own time to read them, and that would not be on bright summer days."

"Without sacrificing bright summer days, one finds one has made little progress when the long winter nights come."

66

Yes, sir. But must the sacrifice be paid in books? I fancy I learned as much in the playground as I did in the schoolroom, and for the last few months, in much my own master, reading hard, in the forenoon, it is true, for many hours at a stretch, and yet again for a few hours at evening, but rambling also through the streets, or listening to a few friends whom I have contrived to make-I think, if I can boast of any progress at all, the books have the smaller share in it."

"You would, then, prefer an active life to a studious one.

66

Oh, yes-yes."

"Dinner is served," said the decorous Mr Mills, throwing open the door.

her offspring, instead of chilling their affection, and alienating their love, by selfishness, indifference, or neglect. We are perfectly certain that any indication of an altered policy towards these colonies would be hailed with enthusiasm, and the sooner we resolve upon it the better. We know that the loyalty of the colonists has been tested and approved-therefore we are the more bound to lend a favourable ear to their requests, and, if reasonable, to meet their wishes. We must suppose that our brethren on the other side of the Atlantic know better than we do what is necessary or expedient for their welfare; and, therefore, we are bound to defer to their judgment and accede to their desires, unless some very cogent and intelligible reason can be assigned to the contrary. Their primary wish, which has been repeatedly expressed, and which was long ago preferred by the Canadian Legislative Assembly, is for the incor. poration of all the British provinces, in North America, in a legislative union. Now what possible objection can be raised to that? All the provinces are agreed in recommending it. They feel at present the want of power, administrative as well as political, arising from the absence of union; and they point to the separate jurisdictions and tariffs, the different currencies and codes of law, as inconveniences and anomalies which ought to be removed, and which would be removed if Britain would only listen to their prayer. If there is any objection-if any of our statesmen think that the system of the Heptarchy is suitable for the future government of North America -let us hear them upon the subject. It may be that the desire of the colonists is extravagant or objectionable, and that there are excellent reasons for keeping the provinces asunder. We are not so ardent for change that we shall refuse to listen to the counter argument; but surely it is a monstrous thing that this cry of the colonists should remain unanswered for so many years, and have elicited no response from the drowsy deities of Downing Street. Next comes their request that repre

sentatives from the colonies of North America should have seats in the House of Commons. We do not disguise our anxiety as to the result of that proposal, which must necessarily be considered in the next session of Parliament. It is a question, in the first instance, for Her Majesty's Ministers, who have pledged themselves to bring forward a measure of representative reform; and it is one of such vast importance that they cannot refuse to pronounce a distinct opinion upon it. Indeed, such a refusal would be little short of a direct insult to the Canadians, who have formally claimed for themselves, and for the people of the other provinces, the right of representation in Parliament -a claim which might well rest in abeyance while the existing arrangements were undisturbed, but which instantly revived when a new adjustment of the representation was proposed. The difficulty here lies in the recognition of the principle. It will be said that there is no precedent for granting to colonists the privilege of sitting in Parliament, except as representatives of a purely British constituency; and we anticipate that this objection will be most strongly urged by the very men who, on other occasions, are foremost in advocating change. It is quite true that there is no precedent, any more than there is for the admission of Jews into Parliament; but in political matters, the argument a priori is decidedly the weakest that can be advanced. If a State is to be progressive, inflexible adhesion to precedent becomes a practical impossibility. New wants, new exigencies, require new expedients; and it is the duty of each generation, as it advances into the current of time, to lay down steppingstones for the guidance and advantage of that which is to follow after. The exclusiveness of our fathers is no substantial reason for our remaining exclusive, provided we are satisfied that a more liberal course of conduct is required to meet the exigencies of the case; and in saying so, we by no means depart from the doctrine of sound and enlightened Conservatism. Indeed, we are at present

remonstrating against the exclusiveness of Liberalism, as exhibited in the great parliamentary change of 1832. Up to that period the colonies and our other foreign possessions were represented through the medium of the close boroughs-a system in many respects objectionable, but so far useful that it made the House of Commons the guardian of imperial interests. But the Reform Act totally altered the nature of our representation, deprived the colonies even of the shadow of power, prevented their voice from being heard within the walls of St Stephen's, and converted what was an imperial into an exclusively insular assembly. If this be so-and no man who has paid the slightest attention to politics will dispute the truth of our position then we submit that, by giving the colonists a certain share of parliamentary representation, we are not innovating but restoring, not altering the spirit of the constitution, but devising a means for bringing it more thoroughly into play.

Surely it is more important to Britain that Canada should be represented than Calne, or Nova Scotia than Arundel! When Lord John Russell brought forward in 1854 his abortive Reform Bill, he proposed that nineteen boroughs, which at present return twenty-nine members, should be wholly disfranchised, because either the number of electors was under three hundred, or that of the inhabitants under five thousand. He, moreover, proposed to make vacant thirty-three other seats in Parliament by restricting boroughs now returning two members to one. But his lordship had no intention of diminishing the number of the House of Commons, which was to be kept up by giving additional members to towns and counties at present sufficiently represented. In fact, his overplus was so large that he evidently found difficulty in disposing of it. Now, if the disfranchisement was required, or expedient on account of the insignificance of the boroughs, here is an ample fund available for the supply of the colonies. Bradford, Leeds, Sheffield, Wolverhampton, Birmingham, and Bristol, may very

well remain contented with the two members each which they have at present, and so may many of the counties and their divisions. We have no idea that Lord Palmerston will propose to carry the work of disfranchisement so far as contemplated by Lord John Russell; still, it seems to be the universal impression that some of the smaller boroughs should cease to return representatives, and, without pushing the change too far, many more seats could be advantageously released than are required to satisfy the colonies. Thus, both time and circumstance combine to allow this question to be disposed of with a deliberation corresponding to its magnitude and importance, and we would earnestly recommend it, in the mean time, to the notice of our brethren of the press. We have no doubt that public opinion would at once declare itself in favour of the colonists, provided their case was properly stated, and the nature of their claims generally understood; and in the dearth of other topics, the men who exercise so large an influence upon public opinion, can hardly be better employed than in discussing a proposal which has for its object the establishment of a better understanding, and a closer amity and union, between Great Britain and her nearest and most valuable dependencies. And further, we urge the subject upon the attention of members of the Legislature, whatever may be their political tenets: We do not anticipate, in the pending discussion, any renewal of that rancour which disfigured the debates upon the subject of reform some five-and-twenty years ago, or a repetition of that zealotry which made partisans look only to the immediate effect of their measures, without contemplating the ultimate results. We hope, and would fain believe, that the ascendancy of party, which is ephemeral, will not be made an important element in the deliberations of the House, but that members will be influenced only by the consideration of what is best for the permanent interests of the country. We use the word in no restricted sense. Acknowledging the claims of our brethren of the

« ÀÌÀü°è¼Ó »