“For what purpose do you propose it, my lord?”
“I don't know—for two or three purposes, I believe.”
“Will your lordship state them?”
“Why, Tom, I should wish to do the old peer; and touching the baronet's daughter, who is said to be very conscientious—which I suppose means the same thing as religion—I should wish to—”
“To do her too,” added Norton, laughing.
“Yes, I believe so; but I forget. Don't the pas'ns teach it?”
“Yes, my lord, by precept, most of them do; not so many by example.”
“But it's the theory only I want. You don't suppose I intend to practice religion, Tom, I hope?”
“No, my lord, I have a different opinion of your principles.”
“Could you hire me a pas'n, to give lessons in it—say two a week—I shall require to know something of it; for, my dear Tom, you are not to be told that twelve thousand a year, and a beautiful girl, are worth making an effort for. It is true she—Miss Gourlay, I mean—is not to be spoken of in comparison with the cigar-man's daughter; but then, twelve thousand a year, Tom—and the good old peer is threatening to curtail my allowance. Or stay, Tom, would hypocrisy do as well as religion?”