‘My dear Frank,’ said she, in a voice thoroughly suitable to the importance of the communication, ‘you have to-day come of age.’

Frank remarked that he understood that such was the case, and added that ‘that was the reason for all the fuss.’

’Yes; you have to-day come of age.  Perhaps I should have been glad to see such an occasion noticed at Greshamsbury with some more suitable signs of rejoicing.’

‘Oh, aunt!  I think we did it all very well.’

’Greshamsbury, Frank, is, or at any rate ought to be, the seat of the first commoner in Barsetshire.

’Well; so it is.  I am quite sure there isn’t a better fellow than father anywhere in the county.’

The countess sighed.  Her opinion of the poor squire was very different from Frank’s.  ‘It is no use now,’ said she, ’looking back to that which cannot be cured.  The first commoner in Barsetshire should hold a position—­I will not of course say equal to that of a peer.’

‘Oh dear no; of course not,’ said Frank; and a bystander might have thought that there was a touch of satire in his tone.

’No, not equal to that of a peer; but still of very paramount importance.  Of course my first ambition is bound up in Porlock.’

‘Of course,’ said Frank, thinking how very weak was the staff on which his aunt’s ambition rested; for Lord Porlock’s youthful career had not been such as to give unmitigated satisfaction to his parents.

‘Is bound up in Porlock:’  and then the countess plumed herself; but the mother sighed.  ‘And next to Porlock, my anxiety is about you.’

’Upon my honour, aunt, I am very much obliged.  I shall be all right, you know.’

‘Greshamsbury, my dear boy, is not now what it used to be.’

‘Isn’t it?’ asked Frank.

’No, Frank; by no means.  I do not wish to say a word against your father.  It may, perhaps have been his misfortune, rather than his fault—­’

‘She is always down on the governor; always,’ said Frank to himself; resolving to stick bravely to the side of the house to which he had elected to belong.

’But there is the fact, Frank, too plain to us all; Greshamsbury is not what it was.  It is your duty to restore it to its former importance.’

‘My duty!’ said Frank, rather puzzled.

’Yes, Frank, your duty.  It all depends on you now.  Of course you know that your father owes a great deal of money.’

Frank muttered something.  Tidings had in some shape reached his ear that his father was not comfortably circumstances as regards money.

’And then, he has sold Boxall Hill.  It cannot be expected that Boxall Hill shall be purchased, as some horrid man, a railway-maker, I believe—­’

‘Yes; that’s Scatcherd.’

’Well, he has built a house there, I’m told; so I presume that it cannot be bought back:  but it will be your duty, Frank, to pay all the debts that there are on the property, and to purchase what, at any rate, will be equal to Boxall Hill.’