'Oh, of course, my dear follow,' said the Honourable John, laughing; 'that's a matter of course. We all understand that without saying it. Porlock, of course, would feel exactly the same about the governor; but if the governor were to walk, I think Porlock would console himself with the thirty thousand a year.'
'I don't know what Porlock would do; he's always quarrelling with my uncle, I know. I only spoke of myself; I never quarrelled with my father, and I hope I never shall.'
'All right, my lad of wax, all right. I dare say you won't be tried; but if you are, you'll find before six months are over, that it's a very nice thing to be master of Greshamsbury.'
'I'm sure I shouldn't find anything of the kind.'
'Very well, so be it. You wouldn't do as young Hatherly did, at Hatherly Court, in Gloucestershire, when his father kicked the bucket. You know Hatherly, don't you?'
'No; I never saw him.'
'He's Sir Frederick now, and has, or had, one of the finest fortunes in England, for a commoner; the most of it is gone now. Well, when he heard of his governor's death, he was in Paris, but he went off to Hatherly as fast as special train and post-horses would carry him, and got there just in time for the funeral. As he came back to Hatherly Court from the church, they were putting up the hatchment over the door, and Master Fred saw that the undertakers had put at the bottom "Resurgam." You know what that means?'
'Oh, yes,' said Frank.
'"I'll come back again,"' said the Honourable John, construing the Latin for the benefit of his cousin. '"No," said Fred Hatherly, looking up at the hatchment; "I'm blessed if you do, old gentleman. That would be too much of a joke; I'll take care of that." So he got up at night, and he got some fellows with him, and they climbed up and painted out "Resurgam," and they painted into its place, "Requiescat in pace;" which means, you know, "you'd a great deal better stay where you are." Now I call that good. Fred Hatherly did that as sure as—as sure as—as sure as anything.'
Frank could not help laughing at the story, especially at his cousin's mode of translating the undertaker's mottoes; and then they sauntered back from the stables into the house to dress for dinner.
Dr. Thorne had come to the house somewhat before dinner-time, at Mr. Gresham's request, and was now sitting with the squire in his own book-room—so called—while Mary was talking to some of the girls up stairs.
