"
"He seemed a very intelligent person," said Lord de Mowbray
with many smiles.
"Yes," said Mr Trafford; "he has great talents and great
integrity. I would trust him with anything and to any amount.
All I wish," he added, with a smile and in a lower tone to
Lady de Mowbray, "all I wish is, that he was not quite so fond
of politics."
"Is he very violent?" enquired her ladyship in a sugary tone.
"Too violent," said Mr Trafford, "and wild in his ideas."
"And yet I suppose," said Lord Milford, "he must be very well
off?"
"Why I must say for him it is not selfishness that makes him a
malcontent," said Mr Trafford; "he bemoans the condition of
the people."
"If we are to judge of the condition of the people by what we
see here," said Lord de Mowbray, "there is little to lament in
it. But I fear these are instances not so common as we could
wish. You must have been at a great outlay, Mr Trafford?"
"Why," said Mr Trafford, "for my part. I have always
considered that there was nothing so expensive as a vicious
population. I hope I had other objects in view in what I have
done than a pecuniary compensation. They say we all have our
hobbies; and it was ever mine to improve the condition of my
workpeople, to see what good tenements and good schools and
just wages paid in a fair manner, and the encouragement of
civilizing pursuits, would do to elevate their character.
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