In mercy's name, my lord, go your way alone, and do not tempt him into danger!' 'My good woman,' said Gashford, 'how can you!--Dear me!--What do you mean by tempting, and by danger?
Do you think his lordship is a roaring lion, going about and seeking whom he may devour?
God bless me!' 'No, no, my lord, forgive me,' implored the widow, laying both her hands upon his breast, and scarcely knowing what she did, or said, in the earnestness of her supplication, 'but there are reasons why you should hear my earnest, mother's prayer, and leave my son with me.

Oh do! He is not in his right senses, he is not, indeed!' 'It is a bad sign of the wickedness of these times,' said Lord George, evading her touch, and colouring deeply, 'that those who cling to the truth and support the right cause, are set down as mad.

Have you the heart to say this of your own son, unnatural mother!' 'I am astonished at you!' said Gashford, with a kind of meek severity.
'This is a very sad picture of female depravity.' 'He has surely no appearance,' said Lord George, glancing at Barnaby, and whispering in his secretary's ear, 'of being deranged?
And even if he had, we must not construe any trifling peculiarity into madness.
Which of us'-- and here he turned red again--'would be safe, if that were made the law!' 'Not one,' replied the secretary; 'in that case, the greater the zeal, the truth, and talent; the more direct the call from above; the clearer would be the madness.

With regard to this young man, my lord,' he added, with a lip that slightly curled as he looked at Barnaby, who stood twirling his hat, and stealthily beckoning them to come away, 'he is as sensible and self-possessed as any one I ever saw.' 'And you desire to make one of this great body ?' said Lord George, addressing him; 'and intended to make one, did you ?' 'Yes--yes,' said Barnaby, with sparkling eyes.

'To be sure I did! I told her so myself.' 'I see,' replied Lord George, with a reproachful glance at the unhappy mother.