‘No, I thank you.  I will have no more time wasted.’

Louis passively moved to the window, where he exclaimed that he saw Aunt Catharine sunning herself in the garden, and must go and help her.

‘Did you ever see anything like that?’ cried Lord Ormersfield, thoroughly moved to displeasure.

‘There was at least good-humour,’ said Mrs. Ponsonby.  ’Pardon me, there was almost as much to try his temper as yours.’

‘He is insensible!’

‘I think not.  A word from Aunt Catharine rules him.’

’Though you counselled it, Mary, I doubt whether her training has answered.  Henry Frost should have been a warning.’

Mary found herself blundering in her new copy, and retreated with it to the study, while her mother made answer:  ’I do not repent of my advice.  The affection between him and Aunt Catherine is the greatest blessing to him.’

‘Poor boy!’ said his father, forgetting his letters as he stood pondering.  Mrs. Ponsonby seized the moment for reporting Sir Miles’s opinion, but the Earl did not betray his gratification.  ’First sight!’ he said.  ’Last night and this afternoon he is as unlike as these are,’ and he placed before her Louis’s unlucky copies, together with a letter written in a bold, manly hand.  ’Three different men might have written these!  And he pretends he cannot write like this, if he please!’

’I have no doubt it is to a certain extent true.  Yes, absolutely true.  You do not conceive the influence that mood has on some characters before they have learnt to master themselves.  I do not mean temper, but the mere frame of spirits.  Even sense of restraint will often take away the actual power from a child, or where there is not a strong will.’

‘You are right!’ said he, becoming rigid as if with pain.  ’He is a child!  You have not yet told me what you think of him.  You need not hesitate.  No one sees the likeness more plainly than I do.’

‘It is strong externally,’ she said; ’but I think it is more external than real, more temperament than character.’

‘You are too metaphysical for me, Mary;’ and he would fain have smiled.

’I want you to be hopeful.  Half the object would be attained if you were, and he really deserves that you should.’

’He will not let me.  If I hope at one moment, I am disappointed the next.’

’And how?  By nothing worse than boyishness.  You confirm what my aunt tells me, that there has never been a serious complaint of him.’

’Never.  His conduct has always been blameless; but every tutor has said the same—­that he has no application, and allows himself to be surpassed by any one of moderate energy!’

’Blameless conduct!  How many fathers would give worlds to be able to give such a character of a son!’

‘There are faults that are the very indications of a manly spirit,’ began the Earl, impatiently.  ’Not that I mean that I wish—­he has never given me any trouble—­but just look at James Frost, and you would see what I mean!  There’s energy in him—­fire—­independence; you feel there is substance in him, and like him the better for having a will and way of his own.’