air of intimate consultation -
    »What could we do for this young man, supposing he were let off? I shall
send a letter with fifty pounds to the old woman to-morrow. I ought to have done
it before, but it really slipped my memory, amongst the many things that have
occupied me lately. But this young man - what do you think would be the best
thing we could do for him, if he gets at large again? He should be put in a
position where his qualities could be more telling.«
    Esther was recovering her liveliness a little, and was disposed to encourage
it for the sake of veiling other feelings, about which she felt renewed
reticence, now that the overpowering influence of her enthusiasm was past. She
was rather wickedly amused and scornful at Harold's misconceptions and
ill-placed intentions of patronage.
    »You are hopelessly in the dark,« she said, with a light laugh and toss of
her head. »What would you offer Felix Holt? a place in the Excise? You might as
well think of offering it to John the Baptist. Felix has chosen his lot. He
means always to be a poor man.«
    »Means? Yes,« said Harold, slightly piqued, »but what a man means usually
depends on what happens. I mean to be a commoner; but a peerage might present
itself under acceptable circumstances.«
    »O there is no sum in proportion to be done there,« said Esther, again
gaily. »As you are to a peerage, so is not Felix Holt to any offer an advantage
that you could imagine for him.«
    »You must think him fit for any position - the first in the county.«
    »No, I don't,« said Esther shaking her head mischievously. »I think him too
high for it.«
    »I see you can be ardent in your admiration.«
    »Yes, it is my champagne; you know I don't like the other kind.«
    »That would be satisfactory if one were sure of getting your admiration,«
said Harold, leading her up to the terrace, and amongst the crocuses, from
whence they had a fine view of the park and river. They stood still near the
east parapet, and saw the dash of light on the water, and the pencilled shadows
of the trees on the grassy lawn.
    »Would it do as well to admire you, instead of being worthy to be admired?«
said Harold, turning his eyes from that landscape to Esther's face.