'It will now depend altogether upon yourself, Frank, whether you
maintain or lose that high position in the county which has been held
by the Greshams for so many years,' said the countess, as she walked
through the spacious hall, resolving to lose no time in teaching to her
nephew that great lesson which it was so imperative that he should
learn.

Frank took this as an ordinary lecture, meant to inculcate general good
conduct, such as old bores of aunts are apt to inflict on youthful
victims in the shape of nephews and nieces.

'Yes,' said Frank; 'I suppose so; and I mean to go along all square,
aunt, and no mistake. When I get back to Cambridge, I'll read like
bricks.'

His aunt did not care two straws about his reading. It was not by
reading that the Greshams of Greshamsbury had held their heads up in
the county, but by having high blood and plenty of money. The blood had
come naturally to this young man; but it behoved him to look for the
money in a great measure himself. She, Lady de Courcy, could doubtless
help him; she might probably be able to fit him with a wife who would
bring her money onto his birth. His reading was a matter in which she
could in no way assist him; whether his taste might lead him to prefer
books or pictures, or dogs and horses, or turnips in drills, or old
Italian plates and dishes, was a matter which did not much signify;
with which it was not at all necessary that his noble aunt should
trouble herself.

'Oh! you are going to Cambridge again, are you? Well, if your father