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TWO NATIONS.
111

"He is one of us; we ought to be able to depend on him. But I have spoken to him for an hour, and could get nothing out of him."

"He is cautious; but depend upon it, he will stand or fall by the land."

"T am not thinking of the land," said Sir Vavasour; "of something much more important; with all the influence of the land, and a great deal more besides; of an order of men who are ready to rally round the throne, and are, indeed, if justice were done to them, its natural and hereditary champions (Egremont looked perplexity); I am speaking," added Sir Vavasour, in a solemn voice, "I am speaking of the baronets!"

"The baronets! And what do they want?"

"Their rights; their long withheld rights. The poor king was with us. He has frequently expressed to me and other deputies, his determination to do us justice; but he was not a strong-minded man," said Sir Vavasour, with a sigh; "and in these revolutionary and levelling times, he had a hard task perhaps. And the peers, who are our brethren, they were, I fear,

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