“Lumley,” replied Templeton, kindly, “you mistake me. I think much more highly of you than I did—much: there is a steadiness, a sobriety about you most praiseworthy, and you shall go into parliament if you wish it; but not for C———. I will give my interest there to some other friend of the government, and in return they can give you a treasury borough! That is the same thing to you.”
Lumley was agreeably surprised—he pressed his uncle’s hand warmly, and thanked him cordially. Mr. Templeton proceeded to explain to him that it was inconvenient and expensive sitting for places where one’s family was known, and Lumley fully subscribed to all.
“As for the settlement of the peerage, that is all right,” said Templeton; and then he sank into a reverie, from which he broke joyously—“yes, that is all right. I have projects, objects—this may unite them all—nothing can be better—you will be the next lord—what—I say, what title shall we have?”
“Oh, take a sounding one—you have very little landed property, I think?”
“Two thousand a year in ———shire, bought a bargain.”
“What’s the name of the place?”
“Grubley.”
“Lord Grubley!—Baron Grubley of Grubley—oh, atrocious! Who had the place before you?”
“Bought it of Mr. Sheepshanks—very old family.”
“But surely some old Norman once had the place?”