He received letters from tutors, and headmasters, prophesying that, if Frank chose, he might rise to the "highest honors in church or state;" and the idea thus suggested, vague as it was, remained, and filled Mr.Buxton's mind; and, for the first time in his life, made him wish that his own career had been such as would have led him to form connections among the great and powerful.

But, as it was, his shyness and _gene_, from being unaccustomed to society, had made him averse to Frank's occasional requests that he might bring such and such a school-fellow, or college-chum, home on a visit.

Now he regretted this, on account of the want of those connections which might thus have been formed; and, in his visions, he turned to marriage as the best way of remedying this.

Erminia was right in saying that her uncle had thought of Lady Adela Castlemayne for an instant; though how the little witch had found it out I cannot say, as the idea had been dismissed immediately from his mind.
He was wise enough to see its utter vanity, as long as his son remained undistinguished.

But his hope was this.