Hal stood amazed.
"Such are the varieties of opinion upon all the grand affairs of life," said Mr. Gresham, looking at his nephews. "What amongst one set of people you hear asserted to be absolutely necessary, you will hear, from another set of people, is quite unnecessary. All that can be done, my dear boys, in these difficult cases, is to judge for ourselves, which opinions, and which people, are the most reasonable."
Hal, who had been more accustomed to think of what was fashionable than of what was reasonable, without at all considering the good sense of what his uncle said to him, replied, with childish petulance, "Indeed, sir, I don't know what other people think; I only know what Lady Diana Sweepstakes said."
The name of Lady Diana Sweepstakes Hal thought must impress all present with respect. He was highly astonished, when, as he looked round, he saw a smile of contempt upon every one's countenance; and he was yet further bewildered when he heard her spoken of as a very silly, extravagant, ridiculous woman, whose opinion no prudent person would ask upon any subject, and whose example was to be shunned, instead of being imitated.
"Ay, my dear Hal," said his uncle, smiling at his look of amazement, "these are some of the things that young people must learn from experience. All the world do not agree in opinion about characters; you will hear the same person admired in one company and blamed in another; so that we must still come round to the same point, 'Judge for yourself.'"
Hal's thoughts were, however, at present too full of the uniform to allow his judgment to act with perfect impartiality. As soon as their visit was over, and all the time they walked down the hill from Prince's Buildings towards Bristol, he continued to repeat nearly the same arguments which he had formerly used respecting necessity, the uniform, and Lady Diana Sweepstakes.
To all this Mr. Gresham made no reply; and longer had the young gentleman expatiated upon the subject, which had so strongly seized upon his imagination, had not his senses been forcibly assailed at this instant by the delicious odours and tempting sight of certain cakes and jellies in a pastry-cook's shop.
"O, uncle," said he, as he was going to turn the corner to pursue the road to Bristol, "look at those jellies," pointing to a confectioner's shop. "I must buy some of those good things; for I have got some half-pence in my pocket."
"Your having half-pence in your pocket is an excellent reason for eating," said Mr. Gresham, smiling.
"But I really am hungry," said Hal; "you know, uncle, it is a good while since breakfast."