"Yes; I must not let one poor youth lose the opportunity offered by your--your--" "Never mind what; proceed.

One poor youth,--in the shop, of course ?" "No; and by his father's side (since you so esteem such vanities) of an ancient family,--a sister of Dr.Mivers married Captain Ardworth." "Ardworth,--a goodish name; Ardworth of Yorkshire ?" "Yes, of that family.

It was, of course, an imprudent marriage, contracted while he was only an ensign.

His family did not reject him, Sir Miles." "Sir, Ardworth is a good squire's family, but the name is Saxon; there is no difference in race between the head of the Ardworths, if he were a duke, and my gardener, John Hodge,--Saxon and Saxon, both.

His family did not reject him; go on." "But he was a younger son in a large family; both himself and his wife have known all the distresses common, they tell me, to the poverty of a soldier who has no resource but his pay.