"I wish I were an elder son; but we can't all have that luck." "Who wouldn't sooner be the younger son of an earl than the eldest son of a plain squire ?" said Frank, wishing to say something civil in return for his cousin's civility.
"I wouldn't for one," said the Honourable John.

"What chance have I?
There's Porlock as strong as a horse; and then George comes next.

And the governor's good for these twenty years." And the young man sighed as he reflected what small hope there was that all those who were nearest and dearest to him should die out of his way, and leave him to the sweet enjoyment of an earl's coronet and fortune.

"Now, you're sure of your game some day; and as you've no brothers, I suppose the squire'll let you do pretty well what you like.

Besides, he's not so strong as my governor, though he's younger." Frank had never looked at his fortune in this light before, and was so slow and green that he was not much delighted at the prospect now that it was offered to him.