"it is sometimes inconceivable how small the distance is, in the balancing of fortune, between absolute proscription and the highest promotion; between contemptuous neglect, and the Privy Council itself."

"What, in this country ?" asked De Vere; "in Turkey or Spain I could conceive it."

"There are instances before one's eyes," replied Flowerdale; "and it is a mistake to suppose that political ambition presents not as bitter a cup in England as elsewhere."

De Vere was pondering these words when the baronet continued: "I have this moment been contributing my mite to save a man from a gaol, who once figured in parliament, and was my superior in office."

De Vere, somewhat moved, asked his history.

"Under the last administration," answered Sir William, "he shewed some talent, and his heart beat high with pride. But though he spoke for ministers in public he rebelled in private, and being cautioned, gave himself airs. In fact, led away by what he called spirit, but what was really vanity, he miscalculated his strength. He was abandoned, and not improperly, by his patrons, whom he had used ill; his whole con

sequence was extinguished; and he is now lamenting, with many other mistaken people, the total neglect of that world in which he once thought to shine."

"He brought his calamity on himself,” said De Vere, "yet it is a lamentable picture ;" and he could not help again musing on his hollow

tree.

"Take a contrast to this," said the baronet, "in one of our high placemen, with whom you are acquainted. In the last administration, after long and useful service, he openly complained, and with reason, that promised rewards were withheld. The Treasury cried mutiny; the secretaries caught the alarm; the very clerks barked punishment. In short, the minister of the day turned his back upon him, intending to leave him also to fortune. But he could not contrive to crush him; the gentleman had abilities, and made a high demonstration. The old government bróke up, and the consequence was an immense and immediate promotion under the

new one."

"You paint these revolutions with force," said De Vere," and I dare say I shall profit by them; but whether by assuming complaisance where I otherwise should not do so, or by pre

paring for a proper retreat, is a problem to be solved."

"I trust, at your age," returned Sir William, "that retreat is out of the question ;" and De Vere, thanking him for his confidence, the visit ended.

CHAPTER XV.

THE FEARS OF INEXPERIENCE.

Oh! how full of briars is this working-day world!
They are but burs, cousin,

SHAKSPEARE.

DE VERE began now to think he had had opportunities of observing, that, although a general busy interest, exciting to the spirits, was presented on the face of public life, what he had heard and read of the hollowness of courtiers did not seem entirely unfounded. Had he at that time gone deeper, as he afterwards did, he might have made discoveries to the full as cogent on the other side, and come to the more pleasing conclusion, that as much worth, honour, openness, and even simplicity of character, are to be found among men of power and of business, though that business be politics, as in less prominent, though not less selfish professions.

it

To these we may hereafter come; meantime may not be amiss to remark, that from the very nature of state affairs, it should seem, in the abstract, that the labours of those who administer them are absorbed by business that is the least selfish, because, from the mere force of the terms, it is the business of the common weal, and not their own. It is, however, too certain, that in this outset of his life, the specimens of ambition which his friend Dr. Herbert had taught him to hope for, were not those which exactly met his view; and what he did contemplate were those which least supported the engaging theories of the most sanguine of his guardians.

As he maintained a correspondence with both, he did not fail to notice this, and the following extracts of his letters to Herbert exhibit a picture of his mind at this time, which may not be unimportant.

"All your precepts seem thrown away upon your refractory ward. I bow to your superior experience of mankind; I acknowledge you have many practical philosophers on your side; you have the Temples, Addisons, and Mainwarings to back you, and you count upon my being among them. But should you not also count