"
"Oh! if you saw Jock now, you would not doubt that there's plenty of
substance in him! He has been a very different person ever since his
illness in Switzerland, as full of life and fun as ever, but
thoroughly in earnest about doing right. He had an immense number of
marks for the army examination, and seems by all accounts to be
keeping up to regular work, now that it is more voluntary."
"Is he not rather wasted on the Guards!"
"Well, that was Sir James Evelyn's doing. They are glad enough to
have him there to look after his friend, Mr. Evelyn, and it was one
of the cases where the decision for life has to be made before the
youth is old enough to understand his full capabilities. I expect
Lucas, to give him his right name, will do something distinguished
yet, perhaps be a great General; and I hope Sir James has interest
enough to get him employment before he has eaten his heart out on
drill and parade. Now that Armine's health is coming round, I do
leave Caroline very happy about the younger half of her family."
"And the elder half?"
"Well! I sometimes think that there must have been something
defective in the management of that excellent doctor and his mother,
as if they had never taught the children proper loyal respect for
her! The three younger ones have it all right, and the two elder
sons are as fond of her as possible; but she never had any authority
over those three from the first.
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