an interest in, and let him run before
they came up. My uncle heard a gun; I sent the head gamekeeper word in the
morning to out with it all. Uncle E. was annoyed, and we had a rough parting. If
you are rewarding me for this, I have no right to it.«
    Mrs. Beauchamp rejoined: »Your profession should teach you subordination, if
it does nothing else that is valuable to a Christian gentleman. You will receive
from the publisher the Life and Letters of Lord Collingwood, whom I have it in
my mind that a young midshipman should task himself to imitate. Spend the money
as you think fit.«
    Nevil's ship, commanded by Captain Robert Hall (a most gallant officer, one
of his heroes, and of Lancashire origin, strangely!), flew to the South American
station, in and about Lord Cochrane's waters; then as swiftly back. For, like
the frail Norwegian bark on the edge of the maelström, liker to a country of
conflicting interests and passions, that is not mentally on a level with its
good fortune, England was drifting into foreign complications. A paralyzed
Minister proclaimed it. The governing people, which is looked to for direction
in grave dilemmas by its representatives and reflectors, shouted that it had
been accused of pusillanimity. No one had any desire for war, only we really had
(and it was perfectly true) been talking gigantic nonsense of peace, and of the
ever-lastingness of the exchange of fruits for money, with angels waving
raw-groceries of Eden in joy of the commercial picture. Therefore, to correct
the excesses of that fit, we held the standing by the Moslem, on behalf of the
Mediterranean (and the Moslem is one of our customers, bearing an excellent
reputation for the payment of debts), to be good, granting the necessity. We
deplored the necessity. The Press wept over it. That, however, was not the
politic tone for us while the Imperial berg of Polar ice watched us keenly; and
the Press proceeded to remind us that we had once been bull-dogs. Was there not
an animal within us having a right to a turn now and then? And was it not
(Falstaff, on a calm world, was quoted) for the benefit of our constitutions now
and then to loosen the animal? Granting the necessity, of course. By dint of
incessantly speaking of the necessity we granted it unknowingly. The lighter
hearts regarded our period of monotonously lyrical prosperity as a man sensible
of fresh morning air looks back on