"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.