There are some kindly-hearted, soft-minded parents, in whose estimation not to have fallen into disgrace shows the highest merit on the part of their children.

Herbert had not been rusticated; had not got into debt, at least not to an extent that had been offensive to his father's pocket; he had not been plucked.

Indeed, he had taken honours, in some low unnoticed degree;--unnoticed, that is, at Oxford; but noticed at Castle Richmond by an ovation--almost by a triumph.
But Herbert Fitzgerald was a son to gladden a father's heart and a mother's eye.

He was not handsome, as was his cousin Owen; not tall and stalwart and godlike in his proportions, as was the reveller of Hap House; but nevertheless, and perhaps not the less, was he pleasant to look on.

He was smaller and darker than his cousin; but his eyes were bright and full of good humour.