could do no less than back his cause altogether.--Oh! I could not stand by
and see _a chum_ of my own horsewhipped."

"Well, that was all very spirited and generous; but now, as you are
something too old for mere schoolboy notions," said the commissioner, "let
us look a little farther, and see what we can make of it. It's only a
silly boyish thing as you consider it; but I hope we can turn it to good
account."

"I never thought of turning it to account, sir."

"Think of it now," said the father, a little provoked by the careless
disinterestedness of the son. "In plain English, here is a colonel in his
majesty's service saved from a horsewhipping--a whole noble family saved
from disgrace: these are things not to be forgotten; that is, not to be
forgotten, if you force people to remember them: otherwise--my word for
it--I know the great--the whole would be forgotten in a week. Therefore,
leave me to follow the thing up properly with the uncle, and do you never
let it sleep with the nephew: sometimes a bold stroke, sometimes a delicate
touch, just as the occasion serves, or as may suit the company present--all
that I trust to your own address and judgment."

"Trust nothing, sir, to my address or judgment; for in these things I have
neither. I always act just from impulse and feeling, right or wrong--I have
no talents for _finesse_--leave them all to Cunningham--that's his trade,
and he likes it, luckily: and you should be content with having one such
genius in your family--no family could bear two."

"Come, come, pray be serious, Buckhurst. If you have not or will not use
any common sense and address to advance yourself, leave that to me. You