drew this rapid sketch of the glories so unconstitutionally
withheld from him.

"A magnificent spectacle!" said Egremont.

"Evidently the body destined to save this country," eagerly
continued Sir Vavasour. "Blending all sympathies: the crown
of which they are the peculiar champions; the nobles of whom
they are the popular branch; the people who recognize in them
their natural leaders. But the picture is not complete. We
should be accompanied by an equal number of gallant knights,
our elder sons, who, the moment they come of age, have the
right to claim knighthood of their sovereign, while their
mothers and wives, no longer degraded to the nomenclature of a
sheriff's lady, but resuming their legal or analogical
dignities, and styled the 'honourable baronetess,' with her
coronet and robe, or the 'honourable knightess,' with her
golden collar of S.S., and chaplet or cap of dignity, may
either accompany the procession, or ranged in galleries in a
becoming situation, rain influence from above."

"I am all for their going in the procession," said Egremont.

"The point is not so clear," said Sir Vavasour solemnly; "and
indeed, although we have been firm in defining our rightful
claims in our petitions, as for 'honorary epithets, secondary
titles, personal decorations, and augmented heraldic
bearings.' I am not clear if the government evinced a
disposition for a liberal settlement of the question, I would
not urge a too stringent adherence to every point. For