My object was to unite my father and grandfather on terms of friendship.
This was the view that now absorbed and fixed my mind.

To have him a frequent visitor at Riversley, if not a resident in the house, enlivening them all, while I, perhaps, trifled a cavalry sabre, became one of my settled dreams.

The difficult part of the scheme appeared to me the obtaining of my father's consent.

I mentioned it, and he said immediately that he must have his freedom.

'Now, for instance,' said he, 'what is my desire at this moment?
I have always a big one perched on a rock in the distance; but I speak of my present desire.