sucha
thing
as
destiny
,
it
will
not
submit
to
the
mastery
of
man
.
”
“
Do
not
split
words
with
me
;
you
know
what
I
mean
;
you
feel
what
I
mean
;
I
mean
much
more
than
I
say
,
and
you
understand
much
more
than
I
say
.
My
lord
told
me
to
ask
you
to
dine
with
us
,
if
you
called
,
but
I
will
not
ask
you
.
There
is
no
joy
in
meeting
at
present
.
I
feel
as
I
felt
in
our
last
year
at
Hurstley
.
”
“
Oh
!
don’t
say
that
,
dear
Myra
!
”
and
Endymion
sprang
forward
and
kissed
her
very
much
.
“
Trust
me
;
all
will
come
right
;
a
little
patience
,
and
all
will
come
right
.
”
“
I
have
had
patience
enough
in
life
,
”
said
Lady
Roehampton
;
“
years
of
patience
,
the
most
doleful
,
the
most
dreary
,
the
most
dark
and
tragical
.
And
I
bore
it
all
,
and
I
bore
it
well
,
because
I
thought
of
you
,
and
had
confidence
in
you
,
and
confidence
in
your
star
;
and
because
,
like
an
idiot
,
I
had
schooled
myself
to
believe
that
,
if
I
devoted
my
will
to
you
,
that
star
would
triumph
.
”
So
,
the
reader
will
see
,
that
our
hero
was
not
in
a
very
serene
and
genial
mood
when
he
was
buttonholed
by
the
editor
in
the
lobby
,
and
,
it
is
feared
,
he
was
unusually
curt
with
that
gentleman
,
which
editors
do
not
like
,
and
sometimes
reward
with
a
leading
article
in
consequence
,
on
the
character
and
career
of
our
political
chief
,
perhaps
with
some
passing
reference
to
jacks-in-office
,
and
the
superficial
impertinence
of
private
secretaries
.
These
wise
and
amiable
speculators
on
public
affairs
should
,
however
,
sometimes
charitably
remember
that
even
ministers
have
their
chagrins
,
and
that
the
trained
temper
and
imperturbable
presence
of
mind
of
their
aides-de-camp
are
not
absolutely
proof
to
all
the
infirmities
of
human
nature
.
Endymion
had
returned
home
from
the
lobby
,
depressed
and
dispirited
.
The
last
incident
of
our
life
shapes
and
colours
our
feelings
.
Ever
since
he
had
settled
in
London
,
his
life
might
be
said
to
have
been
happy
,
gradually
and
greatly
prosperous
.
The
devotion
of
his
sister
and
the
eminent
position
she
had
achieved
,
the
friendship
of
Lady
Montfort
,
and
the
kindness
of
society
,
who
had
received
him
with
open
arms
,
his
easy
circumstances
after
painful
narrowness
of
means
,
his
honourable
and
interesting
position
—
these
had
been
the
chief
among
many
other
causes
which
had
justly
rendered
Endymion
Ferrars
a
satisfied
and
contented
man
.
And
it
was
more
than
to
be
hoped
that
not
one
of
these
sources
would
be
wanting
in
his
future
.
And
yet
he
felt
dejected
,
even
to
unhappiness
.
Myra
figured
to
his
painful
consciousness
only
as
deeply
wounded
in
her
feelings
,
and
he
somehow
the
cause
;
Lady
Montfort
,
from
whom
he
had
never
received
anything
but
smiles
and
inspiring
kindness
,
and
witty
raillery
,
and
affectionate
solicitude
for
his
welfare
,
offended
and
estranged
.
And
as
for
society
,
perhaps
it
would
make
a
great
difference
in
his
position
if
he
were
no
longer
a
private
secretary
to
a
cabinet
minister
and
only
a
simple
clerk
;
he
could
not
,
even
at
this
melancholy
moment
,
dwell
on
his
impending
loss
of
income
,
though
that
increase
at
the
time
had
occasioned
him
,
and
those
who
loved
him
,
so
much
satisfaction
.
And
yet
was
he
in
fault
?
Had
his
decision
been
a
narrow-minded
and
craven
one
?
He
could
not
bring
himself
to
believe
so
—
his
conscience
assured
him
that
he
had
acted
rightly
.
After
all
that
he
had
experienced
,
he
was
prepared
to
welcome
an
obscure
,
but
could
not
endure
a
humiliating
position
.
It
was
a
long
summer
evening
.
The
House
had
not
sat
after
the
announcement
of
the
ministers
.
The
twilight
lingered
with
a
charm
almost
as
irresistible
as
among
woods
and
waters
.
Endymion
had
been
engaged
to
dine
out
,
but
had
excused
himself
.
Had
it
not
been
for
the
Montfort
misunderstanding
,
he
would
have
gone
;
but
that
haunted
him
.
He
had
not
called
on
her
that
day
;
he
really
had
not
courage
to
meet
her
.
He
was
beginning
to
think
that
he
might
never
see
her
again
;
never
,
certainly
,
on
the
same
terms
.
She
had
the
reputation
of
being
capricious
,
though
she
had
been
constant
in
her
kindness
to
him
.
Never
see
her
again
,
or
only
see
her
changed
!
He
was
not
aware
of
the
fulness
of
his
misery
before
;
he
was
not
aware
,
until
this
moment
,
that
unless
he
saw
her
every
day
life
would
be
intolerable
.
He
sat
down
at
his
table
,
covered
with
notes
in
every
female
handwriting
except
the
right
one
,
and
with
cards
of
invitation
to
banquets
and
balls
and
concerts
,
and
“
very
earlies
,
”
and
carpet
dances
—
for
our
friend
was
a
very
fashionable
young
man
—
but
what
is
the
use
of
even
being
fashionable
,
if
the
person
you
love
cares
for
you
no
more
?
And
so
out
of
very
wantonness
,
instead
of
opening
notes
sealed
or
stamped
with
every
form
of
coronet
,
he
took
up
a
business-like
epistle
,
closed
only
with
a
wafer
,
and
saying
in
drollery
,
“
I
should
think
a
dun
,
”
he
took
out
a
script
receipt
for
20
,
000
pounds
consols
,
purchased
that
morning
in
the
name
of
Endymion
Ferrars
,
Esq.
It
was
enclosed
in
half
a
sheet
of
note-paper
,
on
which
were
written
these
words
,
in
a
handwriting
which
gave
no
clue
of
acquaintanceship
,
or
even
sex
:
“
Mind
—
you
are
to
send
me
your
first
frank
.
”
CHAPTER
LXVIII
It
was
useless
to
ask
who
could
it
be
?
It
could
only
be
one
person
;
and
yet
how
could
it
have
been
managed
?
So
completely
and
so
promptly
!
Her
lord
,
too
,
away
;
the
only
being
,
it
would
seem
,
who
could
have
effected
for
her
such
a
purpose
,
and
he
the
last
individual
to
whom
,
perhaps
,
she
would
have
applied
.
Was
it
a
dream
?
The
long
twilight
was
dying
away
,
and
it
dies
away
in
the
Albany
a
little
sooner
than
it
does
in
Park
Lane
;
and
so
he
lit
the
candles
on
his
mantel-piece
,
and
then
again
unfolded
the
document
carefully
,
and
read
it
and
re-read
it
.
It
was
not
a
dream
.
He
held
in
his
hand
firmly
,
and
read
with
his
eyes
clearly
,
the
evidence
that
he
was
the
uncontrolled
master
of
no
slight
amount
of
capital
,
and
which
,
if
treated
with
prudence
,
secured
to
him
for
life
an
absolute
and
becoming
independence
.
His
heart
beat
and
his
cheek
glowed
.
What
a
woman
!
And
how
true
were
Myra’s
last
words
at
Hurstley
,
that
women
would
be
his
best
friends
in
life
!
He
ceased
to
think
;
and
,
dropping
into
his
chair
,
fell
into
a
reverie
,
in
which
the
past
and
the
future
seemed
to
blend
,
with
some
mingling
of
a
vague
and
almost
ecstatic
present
.
It
was
a
dream
of
fair
women
,
and
even
fairer
thoughts
,
domestic
tenderness
and
romantic
love
,
mixed
up
with
strange
vicissitudes
of
lofty
and
fiery
action
,
and
passionate
passages
of
eloquence
and
power
.
The
clock
struck
and
roused
him
from
his
musing
.
He
fell
from
the
clouds
.
Could
he
accept
this
boon
?
Was
his
doing
so
consistent
with
that
principle
of
independence
on
which
he
had
resolved
to
build
up
his
life
?
The
boon
thus
conferred
might
be
recalled
and
returned
;
not
legally
indeed
,
but
by
a
stronger
influence
than
any
law
—
the
consciousness
on
his
part
that
the
feeling
of
interest
in
his
life
which
had
prompted
it
might
change
—
would
,
must
change
.
It
was
the
romantic
impulse
of
a
young
and
fascinating
woman
,
who
had
been
to
him
invariably
kind
,
but
who
had
a
reputation
for
caprice
,
which
was
not
unknown
to
him
.
It
was
a
wild
and
beautiful
adventure
;
but
only
that
.
He
walked
up
and
down
his
rooms
for
a
long
time
,
sometimes
thinking
,
sometimes
merely
musing
;
sometimes
in
a
pleased
but
gently
agitated
state
of
almost
unconsciousness
.
At
last
he
sate
down
at
his
writing-table
,
and
wrote
for
some
time
;
and
then
directing
the
letter
to
the
Countess
of
Montfort
,
he
resolved
to
change
the
current
of
his
thoughts
,
and
went
to
a
club
.
Morning
is
not
romantic
.
Romance
is
the
twilight
spell
;
but
morn
is
bright
and
joyous
,
prompt
with
action
,
and
full
of
sanguine
hope
.
Life
has
few
difficulties
in
the
morning
,
at
least
,
none
which
we
cannot
conquer
;
and
a
private
secretary
to
a
minister
,
young
and
prosperous
,
at
his
first
meal
,
surrounded
by
dry
toast
,
all
the
newspapers
,
and
piles
of
correspondence
,
asking
and
promising
everything
,
feels
with
pride
and
delight
the
sense
of
powerful
and
responsible
existence
.
Endymion
had
glanced
at
all
the
leading
articles
,
had
sorted
in
the
correspondence
the
grain
from
the
chaff
,
and
had
settled
in
his
mind
those
who
must
be
answered
and
those
who
must
be
seen
.
The
strange
incident
of
last
night
was
of
course
not
forgotten
,
but
removed
,
as
it
were
,
from
his
consciousness
in
the
bustle
and
pressure
of
active
life
,
when
his
servant
brought
him
a
letter
in
a
handwriting
he
knew
right
well
.
He
would
not
open
it
till
he
was
alone
,
and
then
it
was
with
a
beating
heart
and
a
burning
cheek
.
LADY
MONTFORT’S
LETTER
“
What
is
it
all
about
?
and
what
does
it
all
mean
?
I
should
have
thought
some
great
calamity
had
occurred
if
,
however
distressing
,
it
did
not
appear
in
some
sense
to
be
gratifying
.
What
is
gratifying
?
You
deal
in
conundrums
,
which
I
never
could
find
out
.
Of
course
I
shall
be
at
home
to
you
at
any
time
,
if
you
wish
to
see
me
.
Pray
come
on
at
once
,
as
I
detest
mysteries
.
I
went
to
the
play
last
night
with
your
sister
.
We
both
of
us
rather
expected
to
see
you
,
but
it
seems
neither
of
us
had
mentioned
to
you
we
were
going
.
I
did
not
,
for
I
was
too
low-spirited
about
your
affairs
.
You
lost
nothing
.
The
piece
was
stupid
beyond
expression
.
We
laughed
heartily
,
at
least
I
did
,
to
show
we
were
not
afraid
.
My
lord
came
home
last
night
suddenly
.
Odo
is
going
to
stand
for
the
county
,
and
his
borough
is
vacant
.
What
an
opportunity
it
would
have
been
for
you
!
a
certain
seat
.
But
I
care
for
no
boroughs
now
.
My
lord
will
want
you
to
dine
with
him
to-day
;
I
hope
you
can
come
.
Perhaps
he
will
not
be
able
to
see
you
this
morning
,
as
his
agent
will
be
with
him
about
these
elections
.
Adieu
!
”
If
Lady
Montfort
did
not
like
conundrums
,
she
had
succeeded
,
however
,
in
sending
one
sufficiently
perplexing
to
Endymion
.
Could
it
be
possible
that
the
writer
of
this
letter
was
the
unknown
benefactress
of
the
preceding
eve
?
Lady
Montfort
was
not
a
mystifier
.
Her
nature
was
singularly
frank
and
fearless
,
and
when
Endymion
told
her
everything
that
had
occurred
,
and
gave
her
the
document
which
originally
he
had
meant
to
bring
with
him
in
order
to
return
it
,
her
amazement
and
her
joy
were
equal
.
“
I
wish
I
had
sent
it
,
”
said
Lady
Montfort
,
“
but
that
was
impossible
.
I
do
not
care
who
did
send
it
;
I
have
no
female
curiosity
except
about
matters
which
,
by
knowledge
,
I
may
influence
.
This
is
finished
.
You
are
free
.
You
cannot
hesitate
as
to
your
course
.
I
never
could
speak
to
you
again
if
you
did
hesitate
.
Stop
here
,
and
I
will
go
to
my
lord
.
This
is
a
great
day
.
If
we
can
settle
only
to-day
that
you
shall
be
the
candidate
for
our
borough
,
I
really
shall
not
much
care
for
the
change
of
ministry
.
”
Lady
Montfort
was
a
long
time
away
.
Endymion
would
have
liked
to
have
gone
forth
on
his
affairs
,
but
she
had
impressed
upon
him
so
earnestly
to
wait
for
her
return
that
he
felt
he
could
not
retire
.
The
room
was
one
to
which
he
was
not
unaccustomed
,
otherwise
,
its
contents
would
not
have
been
uninteresting
;
her
portrait
by
more
than
one
great
master
,
a
miniature
of
her
husband
in
a
Venetian
dress
upon
her
writing-table
—
a
table
which
wonderfully
indicated
alike
the
lady
of
fashion
and
the
lady
of
business
,
for
there
seemed
to
be
no
form
in
which
paper
could
be
folded
and
emblazoned
which
was
there
wanting
;
quires
of
letter
paper
,
and
note
paper
,
and
notelet
paper
,
from
despatches
of
state
to
billet-doux
,
all
were
ready
;
great
covers
with
arms
and
supporters
,
more
moderate
ones
with
“
Berengaria
”
in
letters
of
glittering
fancy
,
and
the
destined
shells
of
diminutive
effusions
marked
only
with
a
golden
bee
.
There
was
another
table
covered
with
trinkets
and
precious
toys
;
snuff-boxes
and
patch-boxes
beautifully
painted
,
exquisite
miniatures
,
rare
fans
,
cups
of
agate
,
birds
glittering
with
gems
almost
as
radiant
as
the
tropic
plumage
they
imitated
,
wild
animals
cut
out
of
ivory
,
or
formed
of
fantastic
pearls
—
all
the
spoils
of
queens
and
royal
mistresses
.
Upon
the
walls
were
drawings
of
her
various
homes
;
that
of
her
childhood
,
as
well
as
of
the
hearths
she
ruled
and
loved
.
There
were
a
few
portraits
on
the
walls
also
of
those
whom
she
ranked
as
her
particular
friends
.
Lord
Roehampton
was
one
,
another
was
the
Count
of
Ferroll
.
Time
went
on
;
on
a
little
table
,
by
the
side
of
evidently
her
favourite
chair
,
was
a
book
she
had
been
reading
.
It
was
a
German
tale
of
fame
,
and
Endymion
,
dropping
into
her
seat
,
became
interested
in
a
volume
which
hitherto
he
had
never
seen
,
but
of
which
he
had
heard
much
.
Perhaps
he
had
been
reading
for
some
time
;
there
was
a
sound
,
he
started
and
looked
up
,
and
then
,
springing
from
his
chair
,
he
said
,
“
Something
has
happened
!
”
Lady
Montfort
was
quite
pale
,
and
the
expression
of
her
countenance
distressed
,
but
when
he
said
these
words
she
tried
to
smile
,
and
said
,
“
No
,
no
,
nothing
,
nothing
,
—
at
least
nothing
to
distress
you
.
My
lord
hopes
you
will
be
able
to
dine
with
him
to-day
,
and
tell
him
all
the
news
.
”
And
then
she
threw
herself
into
a
chair
and
sighed
.
“
I
should
like
to
have
a
good
cry
,
as
the
servants
say
—
but
I
never
could
cry
.
I
will
tell
you
all
about
it
in
a
moment
.
You
were
very
good
not
to
go
.
”
It
seems
that
Lady
Montfort
saw
her
lord
before
the
agent
,
who
was
waiting
,
had
had
his
interview
,
and
the
opportunity
being
in
every
way
favourable
,
she
felt
the
way
about
obtaining
his
cousin’s
seat
for
Endymion
.
Lord
Montfort
quite
embraced
this
proposal
.
It
had
never
occurred
to
him
.
He
had
no
idea
that
Ferrars
contemplated
parliament
.
It
was
a
capital
idea
.
He
could
not
bear
reading
the
parliament
reports
,
and
yet
he
liked
to
know
a
little
of
what
was
going
on
.
Now
,
when
anything
happened
of
interest
,
he
should
have
it
all
from
the
fountain-head
.
“
And
you
must
tell
him
,
Berengaria
,
”
he
continued
,
“
that
he
can
come
and
dine
here
whenever
he
likes
,
in
boots
.
It
is
a
settled
thing
that
M.P.‘s
may
dine
in
boots
.
I
think
it
a
most
capital
plan
.
Besides
,
I
know
it
will
please
you
.
You
will
have
your
own
member
.
”
Then
he
rang
the
bell
,
and
begged
Lady
Montfort
to
remain
and
see
the
agent
.
Nothing
like
the
present
time
for
business
.
They
would
make
all
the
arrangements
at
once
,
and
he
would
ask
the
agent
to
dine
with
them
to-day
,
and
so
meet
Mr.
Ferrars
.
So
the
agent
entered
,
and
it
was
all
explained
to
him
,
calmly
and
clearly
,
briefly
by
my
lord
,
but
with
fervent
amplification
by
his
charming
wife
.
The
agent
several
times
attempted
to
make
a
remark
,
but
for
some
time
he
was
unsuccessful
;
Lady
Montfort
was
so
anxious
that
he
should
know
all
about
Mr.
Ferrars
,
the
most
rising
young
man
of
the
day
,
the
son
of
the
Right
Honourable
William
Pitt
Ferrars
,
who
,
had
he
not
died
,
would
probably
have
been
prime
minister
,
and
so
on
.
“
Mr.
Ferrars
seems
to
be
everything
we
could
wish
,
”
said
the
agent
,
“
and
as
you
say
,
my
lady
,
though
he
is
young
,
so
was
Mr.
Pitt
,
and
I
have
little
doubt
,
after
what
you
say
,
my
lady
,
that
it
is
very
likely
he
will
in
time
become
as
eminent
.
But
what
I
came
up
to
town
particularly
to
impress
upon
my
lord
is
,
that
if
Mr.
Odo
will
not
stand
again
,
we
are
in
a
very
great
difficulty
.
”
“
Difficulty
about
what
?
”
said
Lady
Montfort
impatiently
.
“
Well
,
my
lady
,
if
Mr.
Odo
stands
,
there
is
great
respect
for
him
.
The
other
side
would
not
disturb
him
.
He
has
been
member
for
some
years
,
and
my
lord
has
been
very
liberal
.
But
the
truth
is
,
if
Mr.
Odo
does
not
stand
,
we
cannot
command
the
seat
.
”
“
Not
command
the
seat
!
Then
our
interest
must
have
been
terribly
neglected
.
”
“
I
hope
not
,
my
lady
,
”
said
the
agent
.
“
The
fact
is
,
the
property
is
against
us
.
”
“
I
thought
it
was
all
my
lord’s
.
”
“
No
,
my
lady
;
the
strong
interest
in
the
borough
is
my
Lord
Beaumaris
.
It
used
to
be
about
equal
,
but
all
the
new
buildings
are
in
Lord
Beaumaris’
part
of
the
borough
.
It
would
not
have
signified
if
things
had
remained
as
in
the
old
days
.
The
grandfather
of
the
present
lord
was
a
Whig
,
and
always
supported
the
Montforts
,
but
that’s
all
changed
.
The
present
earl
has
gone
over
to
the
other
side
,
and
,
I
hear
,
is
very
strong
in
his
views
.
”
Lady
Montfort
had
to
communicate
all
this
to
Endymion
.
“
You
will
meet
the
agent
at
dinner
,
but
he
did
not
give
me
a
ray
of
hope
.
Go
now
;
indeed
,
I
have
kept
you
too
long
.
I
am
so
stricken
that
I
can
scarcely
command
my
senses
.
Only
think
of
our
borough
being
stolen
from
us
by
Lord
Beaumaris
!
I
have
brought
you
no
luck
,
Endymion
;
I
have
done
you
nothing
but
mischief
;
I
am
miserable
.
If
you
had
attached
yourself
to
Lady
Beaumaris
,
you
might
have
been
a
member
of
parliament
.
”
VOL.
III
.
CHAPTER
I
In
the
meantime
,
the
great
news
being
no
longer
a
secret
,
the
utmost
excitement
prevailed
in
the
world
of
politics
.
The
Tories
had
quite
made
up
their
minds
that
the
ministry
would
have
resigned
,
and
were
sanguine
,
under
such
circumstances
,
of
the
result
.
The
parliament
,
which
the
ministry
was
going
to
dissolve
,
was
one
which
had
been
elected
by
their
counsel
and
under
their
auspices
.
It
was
unusual
,
almost
unconstitutional
,
thus
to
terminate
the
body
they
had
created
.
Nevertheless
,
the
Whigs
,
never
too
delicate
in
such
matters
,
thought
they
had
a
chance
,
and
determined
not
to
lose
it
.
One
thing
they
immediately
succeeded
in
,
and
that
was
,
frightening
their
opponents
.
A
dissolution
with
the
Tories
in
opposition
was
not
pleasant
to
that
party
;
but
a
dissolution
with
a
cry
of
“
Cheap
bread
!
”
amid
a
partially
starving
population
,
was
not
exactly
the
conjuncture
of
providential
circumstances
which
had
long
been
watched
and
wished
for
,
and
cherished
and
coddled
and
proclaimed
and
promised
,
by
the
energetic
army
of
Conservative
wire-pullers
.
Mr.
Tadpole
was
very
restless
at
the
crowded
Carlton
,
speaking
to
every
one
,
unhesitatingly
answering
every
question
,
alike
cajoling
and
dictatorial
,
and
yet
,
all
the
time
,
watching
the
door
of
the
morning
room
with
unquiet
anxiety
.
“
They
will
never
be
able
to
get
up
the
steam
,
Sir
Thomas
;
the
Chartists
are
against
them
.
The
Chartists
will
never
submit
to
anything
that
is
cheap
.
In
spite
of
their
wild
fancies
,
they
are
real
John
Bulls
.
I
beg
your
pardon
,
but
I
see
a
gentleman
I
must
speak
to
,
”
and
he
rushed
towards
the
door
as
Waldershare
entered
.
“
Well
,
what
is
your
news
?
”
asked
Mr.
Tadpole
,
affecting
unconcern
.
“
I
come
here
for
news
,
”
said
Waldershare
.
“
This
is
my
Academus
,
and
you
,
Tadpole
,
are
my
Plato
.
”
“
Well
,
if
you
want
the
words
of
a
wise
man
,
listen
to
me
.
If
I
had
a
great
friend
,
which
Mr.
Waldershare
probably
has
,
who
wants
a
great
place
,
these
are
times
in
which
such
a
man
should
show
his
power
.
”
“
I
have
a
great
friend
whom
I
wish
to
have
a
great
place
,
”
said
Waldershare
,
“
and
I
think
he
is
quite
ready
to
show
his
power
,
if
he
knew
exactly
how
to
exercise
it
.
”
“
What
I
am
saying
to
you
is
not
known
to
a
single
person
in
this
room
,
and
to
only
one
out
of
it
,
but
you
may
depend
upon
what
I
say
.
Lord
Montfort’s
cousin
retires
from
Northborough
to
sit
for
the
county
.
They
think
they
can
nominate
his
successor
as
a
matter
of
course
.
A
delusion
;
your
friend
Lord
Beaumaris
can
command
the
seat
.
”
“
Well
,
I
think
you
can
depend
on
Beaumaris
,
”
said
Waldershare
,
much
interested
.
“
I
depend
upon
you
,
”
said
Mr.
Tadpole
,
with
a
glance
of
affectionate
credulity
.
“
The
party
already
owes
you
much
.
This
will
be
a
crowning
service
.
”
“
Beaumaris
is
rather
a
queer
man
to
deal
with
,
”
said
Waldershare
;
“
he
requires
gentle
handling
.
”
“
All
the
world
says
he
consults
you
on
everything
.
”
“
All
the
world
,
as
usual
,
is
wrong
,
”
said
Waldershare
.
“
Lord
Beaumaris
consults
no
one
except
Lady
Beaumaris
.
”
“
Well
then
we
shall
do
,
”
rejoined
Mr.
Tadpole
triumphantly
.
“
Our
man
that
I
want
him
to
return
is
a
connection
of
Lady
Beaumaris
,
a
Mr.
Rodney
,
very
anxious
to
get
into
parliament
,
and
rich
.
I
do
not
know
who
he
is
exactly
,
but
it
is
a
good
name
;
say
a
cousin
of
Lord
Rodney
until
the
election
is
over
,
and
then
they
may
settle
it
as
they
like
.
”
“
A
Mr.
Rodney
,
”
said
Waldershare
musingly
;
“
well
,
if
I
hear
anything
I
will
let
you
know
.
I
suppose
you
are
in
pretty
good
spirits
?
”
“
I
should
like
a
little
sunshine
.
A
cold
spring
,
and
now
a
wet
summer
,
and
the
certainty
of
a
shocking
harvest
combined
with
manufacturing
distress
spreading
daily
,
is
not
pleasant
,
but
the
English
are
a
discriminating
people
.
They
will
hardly
persuade
them
that
Sir
Robert
has
occasioned
the
bad
harvests
.
”
“
The
present
men
are
clearly
responsible
for
all
that
,
”
said
Waldershare
.
There
was
a
reception
at
Lady
Roehampton’s
this
evening
.
Very
few
Tories
attended
it
,
but
Lady
Beaumaris
was
there
.
She
never
lost
an
opportunity
of
showing
by
her
presence
how
grateful
she
was
to
Myra
for
the
kindness
which
had
greeted
Imogene
when
she
first
entered
society
.
Endymion
,
as
was
his
custom
when
the
opportunity
offered
,
rather
hung
about
Lady
Beaumaris
.
She
always
welcomed
him
with
unaffected
cordiality
and
evident
pleasure
.
He
talked
to
her
,
and
then
gave
way
to
others
,
and
then
came
and
talked
to
her
again
,
and
then
he
proposed
to
take
her
to
have
a
cup
of
tea
,
and
she
assented
to
the
proposal
with
a
brightening
eye
and
a
bewitching
smile
.
“
I
suppose
your
friends
are
very
triumphant
,
Lady
Beaumaris
?
”
said
Endymion
.
“
Yes
;
they
naturally
are
very
excited
.
I
confess
I
am
not
myself
.
”
“
But
you
ought
to
be
,
”
said
Endymion
.
“
You
will
have
an
immense
position
.
I
should
think
Lord
Beaumaris
would
have
any
office
he
chose
,
and
yours
will
be
the
chief
house
of
the
party
.
”
“
I
do
not
know
that
Lord
Beaumaris
would
care
to
have
office
,
and
I
hardly
think
any
office
would
suit
him
.
As
for
myself
,
I
am
obliged
to
be
ambitious
,
but
I
have
no
ambition
,
or
rather
I
would
say
,
I
think
I
was
happier
when
we
all
seemed
to
be
on
the
same
side
.
”
“
Well
,
those
were
happy
days
,
”
said
Endymion
,
“
and
these
are
happy
days
.
And
few
things
make
me
happier
than
to
see
Lady
Beaumaris
admired
and
appreciated
by
every
one
.
”
“
I
wish
you
would
not
call
me
Lady
Beaumaris
.
That
may
be
,
and
indeed
perhaps
is
,
necessary
in
society
,
but
when
we
are
alone
,
I
prefer
being
called
by
a
name
which
once
you
always
and
kindly
used
.
”
“
I
shall
always
love
the
name
,
”
said
Endymion
,
“
and
,
”
he
added
with
some
hesitation
,
“
shall
always
love
her
who
bears
it
.
”
She
involuntarily
pressed
his
arm
,
though
very
slightly
;
and
then
in
rather
a
hushed
and
hurried
tone
she
said
,
“
They
were
talking
about
you
at
dinner
to-day
.
I
fear
this
change
of
government
,
if
there
is
to
be
one
,
will
be
injurious
to
you
—
losing
your
private
secretaryship
to
Mr.
Wilton
,
and
perhaps
other
things
?
”
“
Fortune
of
war
,
”
said
Endymion
;
“
we
must
bear
these
haps
.
But
the
truth
is
,
I
think
it
is
not
unlikely
that
there
may
be
a
change
in
my
life
which
may
be
incompatible
with
retaining
my
secretaryship
under
any
circumstances
.
”
“
You
are
not
going
to
be
married
?
”
she
said
quickly
.
“
Not
the
slightest
idea
of
such
an
event
.
”
“
You
are
too
young
to
marry
.
”
“
Well
,
I
am
older
than
you
.
”
“
Yes
;
but
men
and
women
are
different
in
that
matter
.
Besides
,
you
have
too
many
fair
friends
to
marry
,
at
least
at
present
.
What
would
Lady
Roehampton
say
?
”
“
Well
,
I
have
sometimes
thought
my
sister
wished
me
to
marry
.
”
“
But
then
there
are
others
who
are
not
sisters
,
but
who
are
equally
interested
in
your
welfare
,
”
said
Lady
Beaumaris
,
looking
up
into
his
face
with
her
wondrous
eyes
;
but
the
lashes
were
so
long
,
that
it
was
impossible
to
decide
whether
the
glance
was
an
anxious
one
or
one
half
of
mockery
.
“
Well
,
I
do
not
think
I
shall
ever
marry
,
”
said
Endymion
.
“
The
change
in
my
life
I
was
alluding
to
is
one
by
no
means
of
a
romantic
character
.
I
have
some
thoughts
of
trying
my
luck
on
the
hustings
,
and
getting
into
parliament
.
”
“
That
would
be
delightful
,
”
said
Lady
Beaumaris
.
“
Do
you
know
that
it
has
been
one
of
my
dreams
that
you
should
be
in
parliament
?
”
“
Ah
!
dearest
Imogene
,
for
you
said
I
might
call
you
Imogene
,
you
must
take
care
what
you
say
.
Remember
we
are
unhappily
in
different
camps
.
You
must
not
wish
me
success
in
my
enterprise
;
quite
the
reverse
;
it
is
more
than
probable
that
you
will
have
to
exert
all
your
influence
against
me
;
yes
,
canvass
against
me
,
and
wear
hostile
ribbons
,
and
use
all
your
irresistible
charms
to
array
electors
against
me
,
or
to
detach
them
from
my
ranks
.
”
“
Even
in
jest
,
you
ought
not
to
say
such
things
,
”
said
Lady
Beaumaris
.
“
But
I
am
not
in
jest
,
I
am
in
dreadful
earnest
.
Only
this
morning
I
was
offered
a
seat
,
which
they
told
me
was
secure
;
but
when
I
inquired
into
all
the
circumstances
,
I
found
the
interest
of
Lord
Beaumaris
so
great
,
that
it
would
be
folly
for
me
to
attempt
it
.
”
“
What
seat
?
”
inquired
Lady
Beaumaris
in
a
low
voice
.
“
Northborough
,
”
said
Endymion
,
“
now
held
by
Lord
Montfort’s
cousin
,
who
is
to
come
in
for
his
county
.
The
seat
was
offered
to
me
,
and
I
was
told
I
was
to
be
returned
without
opposition
.
”
“
Lady
Montfort
offered
it
to
you
?
”
asked
Imogene
.
“
She
interested
herself
for
me
,
and
Lord
Montfort
approved
the
suggestion
.
It
was
described
to
me
as
a
family
seat
,
but
when
I
looked
into
the
matter
,
I
found
that
Lord
Beaumaris
was
more
powerful
than
Lord
Montfort
.
”
“
I
thought
that
Lady
Montfort
was
irresistible
,
”
said
Imogene
;
“
she
carries
all
before
her
in
society
.
”
“
Society
and
politics
have
much
to
do
with
each
other
,
but
they
are
not
identical
.
In
the
present
case
,
Lady
Montfort
is
powerless
.
”
“
And
have
you
formally
abandoned
the
seat
?
”
inquired
Lady
Beaumaris
.
“
Not
formally
abandoned
it
;
that
was
not
necessary
,
but
I
have
dismissed
it
from
my
mind
,
and
for
some
time
have
been
trying
to
find
another
seat
,
but
hitherto
without
success
.
In
short
,
in
these
days
it
is
no
longer
possible
to
step
into
parliament
as
if
you
were
stepping
into
a
club
.
”
“
If
I
could
do
anything
,
however
little
?
”
said
Imogene
.
“
Perhaps
Lady
Montfort
would
not
like
me
to
interfere
?
”
“
Why
not
?
”
“
Oh
!
I
do
not
know
,
”
and
then
after
some
hesitation
she
added
,
“
Is
she
jealous
?
”
“
Jealous
!
why
should
she
be
jealous
?
”
“
Perhaps
she
has
had
no
cause
.
”
“
You
know
Lady
Montfort
.
She
is
a
woman
of
quick
and
brilliant
feeling
,
the
best
of
friends
and
a
dauntless
foe
.
Her
kindness
to
me
from
the
first
moment
I
made
her
acquaintance
has
been
inexpressible
,
and
I
sincerely
believe
she
is
most
anxious
to
serve
me
.
But
our
party
is
not
very
popular
at
present
;
there
is
no
doubt
the
country
is
against
us
.
It
is
tired
of
us
.
I
feel
myself
the
general
election
will
be
disastrous
.
Liberal
seats
are
not
abundant
just
now
,
quite
the
reverse
,
and
though
Lady
Montfort
has
done
more
than
any
one
could
under
the
circumstances
,
I
feel
persuaded
,
though
you
think
her
irresistible
,
she
will
not
succeed
.
”
“
I
hardly
know
her
,
”
said
Imogene
.
“
The
world
considers
her
irresistible
,
and
I
think
you
do
.
Nevertheless
,
I
wish
she
could
have
had
her
way
in
this
matter
,
and
I
think
it
quite
a
pity
that
Northborough
has
turned
out
not
to
be
a
family
seat
.
”
CHAPTER
II
There
was
a
dinner-party
at
Mr.
Neuchatel’s
,
to
which
none
were
asked
but
the
high
government
clique
.
It
was
the
last
dinner
before
the
dissolution
:
“
The
dinner
of
consolation
,
or
hope
,
”
said
Lord
Roehampton
.
Lady
Montfort
was
to
be
one
of
the
guests
.
She
was
dressed
,
and
her
carriage
in
the
courtyard
,
and
she
had
just
gone
in
to
see
her
lord
before
she
departed
.
Lord
Montfort
was
extremely
fond
of
jewels
,
and
held
that
you
could
not
see
them
to
advantage
,
or
fairly
judge
of
their
water
or
colour
,
except
on
a
beautiful
woman
.
When
his
wife
was
in
grand
toilette
,
and
he
was
under
the
same
roof
,
he
liked
her
to
call
on
him
in
her
way
to
her
carriage
,
that
he
might
see
her
flashing
rivieres
and
tiaras
,
the
lustre
of
her
huge
pearls
,
and
the
splendour
of
her
emeralds
and
sapphires
and
rubies
.
“
Well
,
Berengaria
,
”
he
said
in
a
playful
tone
,
“
you
look
divine
.
Never
dine
out
again
in
a
high
dress
.
It
distresses
me
.
Bertolini
was
the
only
man
who
ever
caught
the
tournure
of
your
shoulders
,
and
yet
I
am
not
altogether
satisfied
with
his
work
.
So
,
you
are
going
to
dine
with
that
good
Neuchatel
.
Remember
me
kindly
to
him
.
There
are
few
men
I
like
better
.
He
is
so
sensible
,
knows
so
much
,
and
so
much
of
what
is
going
on
.
I
should
have
liked
very
much
to
have
dined
with
him
,
but
he
is
aware
of
my
unfortunate
state
.
Besides
,
my
dear
,
if
I
were
better
I
should
not
have
enough
strength
for
his
dinners
.
They
are
really
banquets
;
I
cannot
stand
those
ortolans
stuffed
with
truffles
and
those
truffles
stuffed
with
ortolans
.
Perhaps
he
will
come
and
dine
with
us
some
day
off
a
joint
.
”
“
The
Queen
of
Mesopotamia
will
be
here
next
week
,
Simon
,
and
we
must
really
give
her
what
you
call
a
joint
,
and
then
we
can
ask
the
Neuchatels
and
a
few
other
people
.
”
“
I
was
in
hopes
the
dissolution
would
have
carried
everybody
away
,
”
said
Lord
Montfort
rather
woefully
.
“
I
wish
the
Queen
of
Mesopotamia
were
a
candidate
for
some
borough
;
I
think
she
would
rather
like
it
.
”
“
Well
,
we
could
not
return
her
,
Simon
;
do
not
touch
on
the
subject
.
But
what
have
you
got
to
amuse
to-day
?
”
“
Oh
!
I
shall
do
very
well
.
I
have
got
the
head
of
the
French
detective
police
to
dine
with
me
,
and
another
man
or
two
.
Besides
,
I
have
got
here
a
most
amusing
book
,
‘Topsy
Turvy
;
’
it
comes
out
in
numbers
.
I
like
books
that
come
out
in
numbers
,
as
there
is
a
little
suspense
,
and
you
cannot
deprive
yourself
of
all
interest
by
glancing
at
the
last
page
of
the
last
volume
.
I
think
you
must
read
‘Topsy
Turvy
,
’
Berengaria
.
I
am
mistaken
if
you
do
not
hear
of
it
.
It
is
very
cynical
,
which
authors
,
who
know
a
little
of
the
world
,
are
apt
to
be
,
and
everything
is
exaggerated
,
which
is
another
of
their
faults
when
they
are
only
a
trifle
acquainted
with
manners
.
A
little
knowledge
of
the
world
is
a
very
dangerous
thing
,
especially
in
literature
.
But
it
is
clever
,
and
the
man
writes
a
capital
style
;
and
style
is
everything
,
especially
in
fiction
.
”
“
And
what
is
the
name
of
the
writer
,
Simon
?
”
“
You
never
heard
of
it
;
I
never
did
;
but
my
secretary
,
who
lives
much
in
Bohemia
,
and
is
a
member
of
the
Cosmopolitan
and
knows
everything
,
tells
me
he
has
written
some
things
before
,
but
they
did
not
succeed
.
His
name
is
St.
Barbe
.
I
should
like
to
ask
him
to
dinner
if
I
knew
how
to
get
at
him
.
”
“
Well
,
adieu
!
Simon
,
”
and
,
with
an
agitated
heart
,
though
apparent
calmness
,
she
touched
his
forehead
with
her
lips
.
“
I
expect
an
unsatisfactory
dinner
.
”
“
Adieu
!
and
if
you
meet
poor
Ferrars
,
which
I
dare
say
you
will
,
tell
him
to
keep
up
his
spirits
.
The
world
is
a
wheel
,
and
it
will
all
come
round
right
.
”
The
dinner
ought
not
to
have
been
unsatisfactory
,
for
though
there
was
no
novelty
among
the
guests
,
they
were
all
clever
and
distinguished
persons
and
united
by
entire
sympathy
.
Several
of
the
ministers
were
there
,
and
the
Roehamptons
,
and
Mr.
Sidney
Wilton
,
and
Endymion
was
also
a
guest
.
But
the
general
tone
was
a
little
affected
and
unnatural
;
forced
gaiety
,
and
a
levity
which
displeased
Lady
Montfort
,
who
fancied
she
was
unhappy
because
the
country
was
going
to
be
ruined
,
but
whose
real
cause
of
dissatisfaction
at
the
bottom
of
her
heart
was
the
affair
of
“
the
family
seat
.
”
Her
hero
,
Lord
Roehampton
,
particularly
did
not
please
her
to-day
.
She
thought
him
flippant
and
in
bad
taste
,
merely
because
he
would
not
look
dismal
and
talk
gloomily
.
“
I
think
we
shall
do
very
well
,
”
he
said
.
“
What
cry
can
be
better
than
that
of
‘Cheap
bread
?
’
It
gives
one
an
appetite
at
once
.
”
“
But
the
Corn-Law
League
says
your
bread
will
not
be
cheap
,
”
said
Melchior
Neuchatel
.
“
I
wonder
whether
the
League
has
really
any
power
in
the
constituencies
,
”
said
Lord
Roehampton
.
“
I
doubt
it
.
They
may
have
in
time
,
but
then
in
the
interval
trade
will
revive
.
I
have
just
been
reading
Mr.
Thornberry’s
speech
.
We
shall
hear
more
of
that
man
.
You
will
not
be
troubled
about
any
of
your
seats
?
”
he
said
,
in
a
lower
tone
of
sympathy
,
addressing
Mrs.
Neuchatel
,
who
was
his
immediate
neighbour
.
“
Our
seats
?
”
said
Mrs.
Neuchatel
,
as
if
waking
from
a
dream
.
“
Oh
,
I
know
nothing
about
them
,
nor
do
I
understand
why
there
is
a
dissolution
.
I
trust
that
parliament
will
not
be
dissolved
without
voting
the
money
for
the
observation
of
the
transit
of
Venus
.
”
“
I
think
the
Roman
Catholic
vote
will
carry
us
through
,
”
said
a
minister
.
“
Talking
of
Roman
Catholics
,
”
said
Mr.
Wilton
,
“
is
it
true
that
Penruddock
has
gone
over
to
Rome
?
”
“
No
truth
in
it
,
”
replied
a
colleague
.
“
He
has
gone
to
Rome
—
there
is
no
doubt
of
that
,
and
he
has
been
there
some
time
,
but
only
for
distraction
.
He
had
overworked
himself
.
”
“
He
might
have
been
a
Dean
if
he
had
been
a
practical
man
,
”
whispered
Lady
Montfort
to
Mr.
Neuchatel
,
“
and
on
the
high
road
to
a
bishopric
.
”
“
That
is
what
we
want
,
Lady
Montfort
,
”
said
Mr.
Neuchatel
;
“
we
want
a
few
practical
men
.
If
we
had
a
practical
man
as
Chancellor
of
the
Exchequer
,
we
should
not
be
in
the
scrape
in
which
we
now
are
.
”
“
It
is
not
likely
that
Penruddock
will
leave
the
Church
with
a
change
of
government
possibly
impending
.
We
could
do
nothing
for
him
with
his
views
,
but
he
will
wait
for
Peel
.
”
“
Oh
!
Peel
will
never
stand
those
high-fliers
.
He
put
the
Church
into
a
Lay
Commission
during
his
last
government
.
”
“
Penruddock
will
never
give
up
Anglicanism
while
there
is
a
chance
of
becoming
a
Laud
.
When
that
chance
vanishes
,
trust
my
word
,
Penruddock
will
make
his
bow
to
the
Vatican
.
”
“
Well
,
I
must
say
,
”
said
Lord
Roehampton
,
“
if
I
were
a
clergyman
I
should
be
a
Roman
Catholic
.
”
“
Then
you
could
not
marry
.
What
a
compliment
to
Lady
Roehampton
!
”
“
Nay
;
it
is
because
I
could
not
marry
that
I
am
not
a
clergyman
.
”
Endymion
had
taken
Adriana
down
to
dinner
.
She
looked
very
well
,
and
was
more
talkative
than
usual
.
“
I
fear
it
will
be
a
very
great
confusion
—
this
general
election
,
”
she
said
.
“
Papa
was
telling
us
that
you
think
of
being
a
candidate
.
”
“
I
am
a
candidate
,
but
without
a
seat
to
captivate
at
present
,
”
said
Endymion
;
“
but
I
am
not
without
hopes
of
making
some
arrangement
.
”
“
Well
,
you
must
tell
me
what
your
colours
are
.
”
“
And
will
you
wear
them
?
”
“
Most
certainly
;
and
I
will
work
you
a
banner
if
you
be
victorious
.
”
“
I
think
I
must
win
with
such
a
prospect
.
”
“
I
hope
you
will
win
in
everything
.
”
When
the
ladies
retired
,
Berengaria
came
and
sate
by
the
side
of
Lady
Roehampton
.
“
What
a
dreary
dinner
!
”
she
said
.
“
Do
you
think
so
?
”
“
Well
,
perhaps
it
was
my
own
fault
.
Perhaps
I
am
not
in
good
cue
,
but
everything
seems
to
me
to
go
wrong
.
”
“
Things
sometimes
do
go
wrong
,
but
then
they
get
right
.
”
“
Well
,
I
do
not
think
anything
will
ever
get
right
with
me
.
”
“
Dear
Lady
Montfort
,
how
can
you
say
such
things
?
You
who
have
,
and
have
always
had
,
the
world
at
your
feet
—
and
always
will
have
.
”
“
I
do
not
know
what
you
mean
by
having
the
world
at
my
feet
.
It
seems
to
me
that
I
have
no
power
whatever
—
I
can
do
nothing
.
I
am
vexed
about
this
business
of
your
brother
.
Our
people
are
so
stupid
.
They
have
no
resource
.
When
I
go
to
them
and
ask
for
a
seat
,
I
expect
a
seat
,
as
I
would
a
shawl
at
Howell
and
James’
if
I
asked
for
one
.
Instead
of
that
they
only
make
difficulties
.
What
our
party
wants
is
a
Mr.
Tadpole
;
he
out-manoeuvres
them
in
every
corner
.
”
“
Well
,
I
shall
be
deeply
disappointed
—
deeply
pained
,
”
said
Lady
Roehampton
,
“
if
Endymion
is
not
in
this
parliament
,
but
if
we
fail
I
will
not
utterly
despair
.
I
will
continue
to
do
what
I
have
done
all
my
life
,
exert
my
utmost
will
and
power
to
advance
him
.
”
“
I
thought
I
had
will
and
power
,
”
said
Lady
Montfort
,
“
but
the
conceit
is
taken
out
of
me
.
Your
brother
was
to
me
a
source
of
great
interest
,
from
the
first
moment
that
I
knew
him
.
His
future
was
an
object
in
life
,
and
I
thought
I
could
mould
it
.
What
a
mistake
!
Instead
of
making
his
fortune
I
have
only
dissipated
his
life
.
”
“
You
have
been
to
him
the
kindest
and
the
most
valuable
of
friends
,
and
he
feels
it
.
”
“
It
is
no
use
being
kind
,
and
I
am
valuable
to
no
one
.
I
often
think
if
I
disappeared
to-morrow
no
one
would
miss
me
.
”
“
You
are
in
a
morbid
mood
,
dear
lady
.
To-morrow
perhaps
everything
will
be
right
,
and
then
you
will
feel
that
you
are
surrounded
by
devoted
friends
,
and
by
a
husband
who
adores
you
.
”
Lady
Montfort
gave
a
scrutinising
glance
at
Lady
Roehampton
as
she
said
this
,
then
shook
her
head
.
“
Ah
!
there
it
is
,
dear
Myra
.
You
judge
from
your
own
happiness
;
you
do
not
know
Lord
Montfort
.
You
know
how
I
love
him
,
but
I
am
perfectly
convinced
he
prefers
my
letters
to
my
society
.
”
“
You
see
what
it
is
to
be
a
Madame
de
Sevigne
,
”
said
Lady
Roehampton
,
trying
to
give
a
playful
tone
to
the
conversation
.
“
You
jest
,
”
said
Lady
Montfort
;
“
I
am
quite
serious
.
No
one
can
deceive
me
;
would
that
they
could
!
I
have
the
fatal
gift
of
reading
persons
,
and
penetrating
motives
,
however
deep
or
complicated
their
character
,
and
what
I
tell
you
about
Lord
Montfort
is
unhappily
too
true
.
”
In
the
meantime
,
while
this
interesting
conversation
was
taking
place
,
the
gentleman
who
had
been
the
object
of
Lady
Montfort’s
eulogium
,
the
gentleman
who
always
out-manoeuvred
her
friends
at
every
corner
,
was
,
though
it
was
approaching
midnight
,
walking
up
and
down
Carlton
Terrace
with
an
agitated
and
indignant
countenance
,
and
not
alone
.
“
I
tell
you
,
Mr.
Waldershare
,
I
know
it
;
I
have
it
almost
from
Lord
Beaumaris
himself
;
he
has
declined
to
support
our
man
,
and
no
doubt
will
give
his
influence
to
the
enemy
.
”
“
I
do
not
believe
that
Lord
Beaumaris
has
made
any
engagement
whatever
.
”
“
A
pretty
state
of
affairs
!
”
exclaimed
Mr.
Tadpole
.
“
I
do
not
know
what
the
world
has
come
to
.
Here
are
gentlemen
expecting
high
places
in
the
Household
,
and
under-secretaryships
of
state
,
and
actually
giving
away
our
seats
to
our
opponents
.
”
“
There
is
some
family
engagement
about
this
seat
between
the
Houses
of
Beaumaris
and
Montfort
,
and
Lord
Beaumaris
,
who
is
a
young
man
,
and
who
does
not
know
as
much
about
these
things
as
you
and
I
do
,
naturally
wants
not
to
make
a
mistake
.
But
he
has
promised
nothing
and
nobody
.
I
know
,
I
might
almost
say
I
saw
the
letter
,
that
he
wrote
to
Lord
Montfort
this
day
,
asking
for
an
interview
to-morrow
morning
on
the
matter
,
and
Lord
Montfort
has
given
him
an
appointment
for
to-morrow
.
This
I
know
.
”
“
Well
,
I
must
leave
it
to
you
,
”
said
Mr.
Tadpole
.
“
You
must
remember
what
we
are
fighting
for
.
The
constitution
is
at
stake
.
”
“
And
the
Church
,
”
said
Waldershare
.
“
And
the
landed
interest
,
you
may
rely
upon
it
,
”
said
Mr.
Tadpole
.
“
And
your
Lordship
of
the
Treasury
in
posse
,
Tadpole
.
Truly
it
is
a
great
stake
.
”
CHAPTER
III
The
interview
between
the
heads
of
the
two
great
houses
of
Montfort
and
Beaumaris
,
on
which
the
fate
of
a
ministry
might
depend
,
for
it
should
always
be
recollected
that
it
was
only
by
a
majority
of
one
that
Sir
Robert
Peel
had
necessitated
the
dissolution
of
parliament
,
was
not
carried
on
exactly
in
the
spirit
and
with
the
means
which
would
have
occurred
to
and
been
practised
by
the
race
of
Tadpoles
and
Tapers
.
Lord
Beaumaris
was
a
very
young
man
,
handsome
,
extremely
shy
,
and
one
who
had
only
very
recently
mixed
with
the
circle
in
which
he
was
born
.
It
was
under
the
influence
of
Imogene
that
,
in
soliciting
an
interview
with
Lord
Montfort
,
he
had
taken
for
him
an
unusual
,
not
to
say
unprecedented
step
.
He
had
conjured
up
to
himself
in
Lord
Montfort
the
apparition
of
a
haughty
Whig
peer
,
proud
of
his
order
,
prouder
of
his
party
,
and
not
over-prejudiced
in
favour
of
one
who
had
quitted
those
sacred
ranks
,
freezing
with
arrogant
reserve
and
condescending
politeness
.
In
short
,
Lord
Beaumaris
was
extremely
nervous
when
,
ushered
by
many
servants
through
many
chambers
,
there
came
forward
to
receive
him
the
most
sweetly
mannered
gentleman
alive
,
who
not
only
gave
him
his
hand
,
but
retained
his
guest’s
,
saying
,
“
We
are
a
sort
of
cousins
,
I
believe
,
and
ought
to
have
been
acquainted
before
,
but
you
know
perhaps
my
wretched
state
,
”
though
what
that
was
nobody
exactly
did
know
,
particularly
as
Lord
Montfort
was
sometimes
seen
wading
in
streams
breast-high
while
throwing
his
skilful
line
over
the
rushing
waters
.
“
I
remember
your
grandfather
,
”
he
said
,
“
and
with
good
cause
.
He
pouched
me
at
Harrow
,
and
it
was
the
largest
pouch
I
ever
had
.
One
does
not
forget
the
first
time
one
had
a
five-pound
note
.
”
And
then
when
Lord
Beaumaris
,
blushing
and
with
much
hesitation
,
had
stated
the
occasion
of
his
asking
for
the
interview
that
they
might
settle
together
about
the
representation
of
Northborough
in
harmony
with
the
old
understanding
between
the
families
which
he
trusted
would
always
be
maintained
,
Lord
Montfort
assured
him
that
he
was
personally
obliged
to
him
by
his
always
supporting
Odo
,
regretted
that
Odo
would
retire
,
and
then
said
if
Lord
Beaumaris
had
any
brother
,
cousin
,
or
friend
to
bring
forward
,
he
need
hardly
say
Lord
Beaumaris
might
count
upon
him
.
“
I
am
a
Whig
,
”
he
continued
,
“
and
so
was
your
father
,
but
I
am
not
particularly
pleased
with
the
sayings
and
doings
of
my
people
.
Between
ourselves
,
I
think
they
have
been
in
a
little
too
long
,
and
if
they
do
anything
very
strong
,
if
,
for
instance
,
they
give
office
to
O’Connell
,
I
should
not
be
at
all
surprised
if
I
were
myself
to
sit
on
the
cross
benches
.
”
It
seems
there
was
no
member
of
the
Beaumaris
family
who
wished
at
this
juncture
to
come
forward
,
and
being
assured
of
this
,
Lord
Montfort
remarked
there
was
a
young
man
of
promise
who
much
wished
to
enter
the
House
of
Commons
,
not
unknown
,
he
believed
,
to
Lord
Beaumaris
,
and
that
was
Mr.
Ferrars
.
He
was
the
son
of
a
distinguished
man
,
now
departed
,
who
in
his
day
had
been
a
minister
of
state
.
Lord
Montfort
was
quite
ready
to
support
Mr.
Ferrars
,
if
Lord
Beaumaris
approved
of
the
selection
,
but
he
placed
himself
entirely
in
his
hands
.
Lord
Beaumaris
,
blushing
,
said
he
quite
approved
of
the
selection
;
knew
Mr.
Ferrars
very
well
,
and
liked
him
very
much
;
and
if
Lord
Montfort
sanctioned
it
,
would
speak
to
Mr.
Ferrars
himself
.
He
believed
Mr.
Ferrars
was
a
Liberal
,
but
he
agreed
with
Lord
Montfort
,
that
in
these
days
gentlemen
must
be
all
of
the
same
opinion
if
not
on
the
same
side
,
and
so
on
.
And
then
they
talked
of
fishing
appropriately
to
a
book
of
very
curious
flies
that
was
on
the
table
,
and
they
agreed
if
possible
to
fish
together
in
some
famous
waters
that
Lord
Beaumaris
had
in
Hampshire
,
and
then
,
as
he
was
saying
farewell
,
Lord
Montfort
added
,
“
Although
I
never
pay
visits
,
because
really
in
my
wretched
state
I
cannot
,
there
is
no
reason
why
our
wives
should
not
know
each
other
.
Will
you
permit
Lady
Montfort
to
have
the
honour
of
paying
her
respects
to
Lady
Beaumaris
?
”
Talleyrand
or
Metternich
could
not
have
conducted
an
interview
more
skilfully
.
But
these
were
just
the
things
that
Lord
Montfort
did
not
dislike
doing
.
His
great
good
nature
was
not
disturbed
by
a
single
inconvenient
circumstance
,
and
he
enjoyed
the
sense
of
his
adroitness
.
The
same
day
the
cards
of
Lord
and
Lady
Montfort
were
sent
to
Piccadilly
Terrace
,
and
on
the
next
day
the
cards
of
Lord
and
Lady
Beaumaris
were
returned
to
Montfort
House
.
And
on
the
following
day
,
Lady
Montfort
,
accompanied
by
Lady
Roehampton
,
would
find
Lady
Beaumaris
at
home
,
and
after
a
charming
visit
,
in
which
Lady
Montfort
,
though
natural
to
the
last
degree
,
displayed
every
quality
which
could
fascinate
even
a
woman
,
when
she
put
her
hand
in
that
of
Imogene
to
say
farewell
,
added
,
“
I
am
delighted
to
find
that
we
are
cousins
.
”
A
few
days
after
this
interview
,
parliament
was
dissolved
.
It
was
the
middle
of
a
wet
June
,
and
the
season
received
its
coup
de
grace
.
Although
Endymion
had
no
rival
,
and
apparently
no
prospect
of
a
contest
,
his
labours
as
a
candidate
were
not
slight
.
The
constituency
was
numerous
,
and
every
member
of
it
expected
to
be
called
upon
.
To
each
Mr.
Ferrars
had
to
expound
his
political
views
,
and
to
receive
from
each
a
cordial
assurance
of
a
churlish
criticism
.
All
this
he
did
and
endured
,
accompanied
by
about
fifty
of
the
principal
inhabitants
,
members
of
his
committee
,
who
insisted
on
never
leaving
his
side
,
and
prompting
him
at
every
new
door
which
he
entered
with
contradictory
reports
of
the
political
opinions
of
the
indweller
,
or
confidential
informations
how
they
were
to
be
managed
and
addressed
.
The
principal
and
most
laborious
incidents
of
the
day
were
festivals
which
they
styled
luncheons
,
when
the
candidate
and
the
ambulatory
committee
were
quartered
on
some
principal
citizen
with
an
elaborate
banquet
of
several
courses
,
and
in
which
Mr.
Ferrars’
health
was
always
pledged
in
sparkling
bumpers
.
After
the
luncheon
came
two
or
three
more
hours
of
what
was
called
canvassing
;
then
,
in
a
state
of
horrible
repletion
,
the
fortunate
candidate
,
who
had
no
contest
,
had
to
dine
with
another
principal
citizen
,
with
real
turtle
soup
,
and
gigantic
turbots
,
entrees
in
the
shape
of
volcanic
curries
,
and
rigid
venison
,
sent
as
a
compliment
by
a
neighbouring
peer
.
This
last
ceremony
was
necessarily
hurried
,
as
Endymion
had
every
night
to
address
in
some
ward
a
body
of
the
electors
.
When
this
had
been
going
on
for
a
few
days
,
the
borough
was
suddenly
placarded
with
posting
bills
in
colossal
characters
of
true
blue
,
warning
the
Conservative
electors
not
to
promise
their
votes
,
as
a
distinguished
candidate
of
the
right
sort
would
certainly
come
forward
.
At
the
same
time
there
was
a
paragraph
in
a
local
journal
that
a
member
of
a
noble
family
,
illustrious
in
the
naval
annals
of
the
country
,
would
,
if
sufficiently
supported
,
solicit
the
suffrages
of
the
independent
electors
.
“
We
think
,
by
the
allusion
to
the
navy
,
that
it
must
be
Mr.
Hood
of
Acreley
,
”
said
Lord
Beaumaris’
agent
to
Mr.
Ferrars
,
“
but
he
has
not
the
ghost
of
a
chance
.
I
will
ride
over
and
see
him
in
the
course
of
the
day
.
”
This
placard
was
of
course
Mr.
Tadpole’s
last
effort
,
but
that
worthy
gentleman
soon
forgot
his
mortification
about
Northborough
in
the
general
triumph
of
his
party
.
The
Whigs
were
nowhere
,
though
Mr.
Ferrars
was
returned
without
opposition
,
and
in
the
month
of
August
,
still
wondering
at
the
rapid
,
strange
,
and
even
mysterious
incidents
,
that
had
so
suddenly
and
so
swiftly
changed
his
position
and
prospects
in
life
,
took
his
seat
in
that
House
in
whose
galleries
he
had
so
long
humbly
attended
as
the
private
secretary
of
a
cabinet
minister
.
His
friends
were
still
in
office
,
though
the
country
had
sent
up
a
majority
of
ninety
against
them
,
and
Endymion
took
his
seat
behind
the
Treasury
bench
,
and
exactly
behind
Lord
Roehampton
.
The
debate
on
the
address
was
protracted
for
three
nights
,
and
then
they
divided
at
three
o’clock
in
the
morning
,
and
then
all
was
over
.
Lord
Roehampton
,
who
had
vindicated
the
ministry
with
admirable
vigour
and
felicity
,
turned
round
to
Endymion
,
and
smiling
said
in
the
sweetest
tone
,
“
I
did
not
enlarge
on
our
greatest
feat
,
namely
,
that
we
had
governed
the
country
for
two
years
without
a
majority
.
Peel
would
never
have
had
the
pluck
to
do
that
.
”
Notwithstanding
the
backsliding
of
Lord
Beaumaris
and
the
unprincipled
conduct
of
Mr.
Waldershare
,
they
were
both
rewarded
as
the
latter
gentleman
projected
—
Lord
Beaumaris
accepted
a
high
post
in
the
Household
,
and
Mr.
Waldershare
was
appointed
Under-Secretary
of
State
for
Foreign
Affairs
.
Tadpole
was
a
little
glum
about
