CHAPTER III.

ltercoolly,“supposingIwereinducedtoletmyhouse,Ihavebynomeansmadeupmymindastotheprivilegestobeannexedtoit.Iamnotparticularlydisposedtofavouratenant.Theparkwouldbeopentohimofcourse,andfewnavyofficers,ormenofanyotherdescription,canhavehadsucharangebutwhatrestrictionsImightimposeontheuseofthepleasure-grounds,isanotherthing.IamnotfondoftheideaofmyshrubberiesbeingalwaysapproachableandIshouldrecommendMissElliottobeonherguardwithrespecttoherflowergarden.IamverylittledisposedtograntatenantofKellynchHallanyextraordinaryfavour,Iassureyou,behesailororsoldier.” Afterashortpause,MrShepherdpresumedtosay— “Inallthesecases,thereareestablishedusageswhichmakeeverythingplainandeasybetweenlandlordandtenant.Yourinterest,SirWalter,isinprettysafehands.Dependuponmefortakingcarethatnotenanthasmorethanhisjustrights.Iventuretohint,thatSirWalterElliotcannotbehalfsojealousforhisown,asJohnShepherdwillbeforhim.” HereAnnespoke— “Thenavy,Ithink,whohavedonesomuchforus,haveatleastanequalclaimwithanyothersetofmen,forallthecomfortsandalltheprivilegeswhichanyhomecangive.Sailorsworkhardenoughfortheircomforts,wemustallallow.” “Verytrue,verytrue.WhatMissAnnesays,isverytrue,”wasMrShepherd’srejoinder,and“Oh!certainly,”washisdaughter’sbutSirWalter’sremarkwas,soonafterwards— “Theprofessionhasitsutility,butIshouldbesorrytoseeanyfriendofminebelongingtoit.” “Indeed!”wasthereply,andwithalookofsurprise. “YesitisintwopointsoffensivetomeIhavetwostronggroundsofobjectiontoit.First,asbeingthemeansofbringingpersonsofobscurebirthintounduedistinction,andraisingmentohonourswhichtheirfathersandgrandfathersneverdreamtofandsecondly,asitcutsupaman’syouthandvigourmosthorriblyasailorgrowsoldsoonerthananyotherman.Ihaveobserveditallmylife.Amanisingreaterdangerinthenavyofbeinginsultedbytheriseofonewhosefather,hisfathermighthavedisdainedtospeakto,andofbecomingprematurelyanobjectofdisgusthimself,thaninanyotherline.Onedaylastspring,intown,Iwasincompanywithtwomen,strikinginstancesofwhatIamtalkingofLordStIves,whosefatherweallknowtohavebeenacountrycurate,withoutbreadtoeatIwastogiveplacetoLordStIves,andacertainAdmiralBaldwin,themostdeplorable-lookingpersonageyoucanimaginehisfacethecolourofmahogany,roughandruggedtothelastdegreealllinesandwrinkles,ninegreyhairsofaside,andnothingbutadabofpowderattop.‘Inthenameofheaven,whoisthatoldfellow?’saidItoafriendofminewhowasstandingnear,(SirBasilMorley).‘Oldfellow!’criedSirBasil,‘itisAdmiralBaldwin.Whatdoyoutakehisagetobe?’‘Sixty,’saidI,‘orperhapssixty-two.’‘Forty,’repliedSirBasil,‘forty,andnomore.’PicturetoyourselvesmyamazementIshallnoteasilyfor