CHAPTER XXI.
Mr.Maule, Senior The life of Mr.Maurice Maule, of Maule Abbey, the father of Gerard Maule, had certainly not been prosperous.

He had from his boyhood enjoyed a reputation for cleverness, and at school had done great things,--winning prizes, spouting speeches on Speech days, playing in elevens, and looking always handsome.

He had been one of those show boys of which two or three are generally to be found at our great schools, and all manner of good things had been prophesied on his behalf.

He had been in love before he was eighteen, and very nearly succeeded in running away with the young lady before he went to college.

His father had died when he was an infant, so that at twenty-one he was thought to be in possession of comfortable wealth.
At Oxford he was considered to have got into a good set,--men of fashion who were also given to talking of books,--who spent money, read poetry, and had opinions of their own respecting the Tracts and Mr.Newman.He took his degree, and then started himself in the world upon that career which is of all the most difficult to follow with respect and self-comfort.