I, as his senior, and a man of the world as I thought myself, used to chaff him about it when he was a boy, and tell him not to be a milksop, but to enter the army.

But I think Jack was right--the parsons have the best of it, I see now.' 'They would hardly admit that,' said Somerset, laughing.

'Nor can I.' 'Nor I,' said the captain's sister.

'See how lovely you all looked with your big guns and uniform when you entered Markton; and then see how stupid the parsons look by comparison, when they flock into Markton at a Visitation.' 'Ah, yes,' said De Stancy, '"Doubtless it is a brilliant masquerade; But when of the first sight you've had your fill, It palls--at least it does so upon me, This paradise of pleasure and ennui." When one is getting on for forty; "When we have made our love, and gamed our gaming, Dressed, voted, shone, and maybe, something more; With dandies dined, heard senators declaiming; Seen beauties brought to market by the score," and so on, there arises a strong desire for a quiet old-fashioned country life, in which incessant movement is not a necessary part of the programme.' 'But you are not forty, Will ?' said Charlotte.
'My dear, I was thirty-nine last January.' 'Well, men about here are youths at that age.

It was India used you up so, when you served in the line, was it not?
I wish you had never gone there!' 'So do I,' said De Stancy drily.