Don't you think I shall be a most useful character ?" "Oh! surely you wish it, do you not ?" "Well, I don't much mind," replied Meredith, snatching a handful of leaves from the hedge near him; "I shall have a nice fat living, and it's a respectable kind of thing." Louis was horror-struck--he had not imagined such an idea--he almost gasped out, "Oh! Meredith, I can hardly understand you.

Surely that is not your only wish about it: that cannot be a reason--not a right one." "Why, what's the harm ?" said Meredith, laughing.

"I only say outright what hundreds think.

If I could choose, perhaps I might like the army best, but my father has a comfortable provision in the church for me, and so I, like a dutiful son, don't demur, especially as, if I follow the example of my predecessor, it will be vastly more easy than a soldier's life." "Meredith, Meredith, this is too solemn a thing to laugh about.

I have often wondered how it is there are clergymen who can take their duties so easily as some do; but if they only undertake them for your reasons, I cannot feel so much surprised that they should be so careless.