’So, I think, has Louis; but it is so often thwarted, that it sinks away under the sense of duty and submission.’

’If there were any consistency or reason in his fancies, they would not give way so easily; but it is all talk, all extravagant notions—­ here one day, gone the next.  Not a spark of ambition!’

’Ambition is not so safe a spark that we should wish to see it lighted.’

’A man must wish to see his son hold his proper station, and aim high!  No one can be satisfied to see him a trifler.’

’I have been trying to find out why he trifles.  As far as I can see, he has no ambition, and I do not think his turn will be for a life like yours.  His bent is towards what is to do good to others.  He would make an admirable country gentleman.’

‘A mere farmer, idling away his time in his fields.’

’No; doing infinite good by example and influence, and coming forward whenever duty required it.  Depend upon it, the benefit to others is the impulse which can work on Louis, not personal ambition.  Birth has already given him more than he values.’

‘You may be right,’ said Lord Ormersfield, ’but it is hard to see so many advantages thrown away, and what sometimes seems like so much ability wasted.  But who can tell? he is never the same for an hour together.’

‘May it not be for want of a sphere of wholesome action?’

’He is not fit for it, Mary.  You know I resolved that the whole burthen of our losses should fall on me; I made it my object that he should not suffer, and should freely have whatever I had at the same age.  Everything is cleared at last.  I could give him the same income as I started in life with; but he is so reckless of money, that I cannot feel justified in putting it into his hands.  Say what I will, not a vacation occurs but he comes to tell me of some paltry debt of ten or fifteen pounds.’

’He comes to tell you!  Nay, never say he has no resolution!  Such debts as those, what are they compared with other young men’s, of which they do not tell their fathers?’

’If he were like other youths, I should know how to deal with him.  But you agree with me, he is not fit to have a larger sum in his hands.’

’Perhaps not; he is too impulsive and inexperienced.  If you were to ask me how to make it conduce to his happiness, I should say, lay out more on the estate, so as to employ more men, and make improvements in which he would take interest.’

’I cannot make him care for the estate.  Last winter, when he came of age, I tried to explain the state of affairs; but he was utterly indifferent—­would not trouble himself to understand the papers he was to sign, and made me quite ashamed of such an exhibition before Richardson.’

’I wish I could defend him!  And yet—­you will think me unreasonable, but I do believe that if he had thought the welfare of others was concerned, he would have attended more.’