sign of grace as he
got older; but, on the contrary, constructing a model of a power-loom, she was
fain, with many tears, to mention his backslidings to the baronet. »Mrs.
Rouncewell,« said Sir Leicester, »I can never consent to argue, as you know,
with any one on any subject. You had better get rid of your boy; you had better
get him into some Works. The iron country farther north is, I suppose, the
congenial direction for a boy with these tendencies.« Farther north he went, and
farther north he grew up; and if Sir Leicester Dedlock ever saw him, when he
came to Chesney Wold to visit his mother, or ever thought of him afterwards, it
is certain that he only regarded him as one of a body of some odd thousand
conspirators, swarthy and grim, who were in the habit of turning out by
torchlight, two or three nights in the week, for unlawful purposes.
    Nevertheless Mrs. Rouncewell's son has, in the course of nature and art,
grown up, and established himself, and married, and called unto him Mrs.
Rouncewell's grandson: who, being out of his apprenticeship, and home from a
journey in far countries, whither he was sent to enlarge his knowledge and
complete his preparations for the venture of this life, stands leaning against
the chimney-piece this very day, in Mrs. Rouncewell's room at Chesney Wold.
    »And, again and again, I am glad to see you, Watt! And, once again, I am
glad to see you, Watt!« says Mrs. Rouncewell. »You are a fine young fellow. You
are like your poor uncle George. Ah!« Mrs. Rouncewell's hands unquiet, as usual,
on this reference.
    »They say I am like my father, grandmother.«
    »Like him, also, my dear, - but most like your poor uncle George! And your
dear father.« Mrs. Rouncewell folds her hands again. »He is well?«
    »Thriving, grandmother, in every way.«
    »I am thankful!« Mrs. Rouncewell is fond of her son, but has a plaintive
feeling towards him - much as if he were a very honourable soldier, who had gone
over to the enemy.
    »He is quite happy?« says she.
    »Quite.«
    »I am thankful! So he has brought you up to follow in his ways, and has sent
you into foreign countries and the like