THE POOR RELATION. CHAPTER I. REMORSE. THE career of Horace Ashton at Cambridge was, save in one solitary respect, highly satisfactory to his family. He had passed his examination not only with credit, but with honor. The example of his friend Hatherston had stimulated him to exertion; and, as his talents were considerable, although his industry was by no means commensurate with them, he returned home in all the glory of a degree. VOL. II. B It is true that Lady Harriette would willingly have dispensed with this distinction for her son, in whom she now saw only the future peer; for, as she assured him while compelling herself to add her own congratulations to those of his father and sisters, she considered that the thing was at once useless and plebeian; and could confer no credit on a young man with his prospects. Sir Hercules, however, thought otherwise; he remembered the brilliant college career of his brother; and although he had reaped no university honors in his own person, he was proud to feel that the Ashton blood had not degenerated. This conviction indeed, it was which enabled him to support with more philosophy than he might otherwise have done, the enormous price at which the privilege had been purchased; for Horace, rendered reckless and extravagant by the perpetual reminders of bis mother of the rank to which he must one day-and that perhaps no distant day-arrive; and careless |