"I only join it because I can get no other employment at the seat of war."
"Humph! You wish to go then, in any case, to the seat of war?"
"Certainly."
"No doubt you have sufficient reasons…. Armsworth, this puts the question in a new light."
Tom looked round at Mark, and, behold, his face bore a ludicrous mixture of anger and disappointment, and perplexity. He seemed to be trying to make signals to Tom, and to be afraid of doing so openly before the great man.
"He is as wilful and as foolish as a girl, my lord; and I've told him so."
"Everybody knows his own business best, Armsworth; Mr. Thurnall, have you any fancy for the post of Queen's messenger?"
"I should esteem myself only too happy as one."
"They are not to be obtained now as easily as they were fifty years ago; and are given, as you may know, to a far higher class of men than they were formerly. But I shall do my best to obtain you one, when an opportunity offers"
Tom was beginning his profusest thanks: for was not his fortune made? but Lord Minchampstead stopped him with an uplifted finger.