haveever
been
to
me
only
too
kind
and
generous
.
"
"
To
whom
should
I
be
kind
but
to
you
;
my
own
blood
that
has
never
crossed
me
,
and
of
whom
I
have
reason
to
be
proud
.
Yes
,
Harry
,
it
gratifies
me
to
hear
you
admired
and
learn
your
success
.
All
I
want
now
is
to
see
you
in
Parliament
.
A
man
should
be
in
Parliament
early
.
There
is
a
sort
of
stiffness
about
every
man
,
no
matter
what
may
be
his
talents
,
who
enters
Parliament
late
in
life
;
and
now
fortunately
the
occasion
offers
.
You
will
go
down
on
Friday
;
feed
the
notabilities
well
;
speak
out
;
praise
Peel
;
abuse
O'Connell
and
the
ladies
of
the
Bed-chamber
;
anathematise
all
waverers
;
say
a
good
deal
about
Ireland
;
stick
to
the
Irish
Registration
Bill
,
that
's
a
good
card
;
and
above
all
,
my
dear
Harry
,
do
n't
spare
that
fellow
Millbank
.
Remember
in
turning
him
out
you
not
only
gain
a
vote
for
the
Conservative
Cause
and
our
coronet
,
but
you
crush
my
foe
.
Spare
nothing
for
that
object
;
I
count
on
you
,
boy
.
"
"
I
should
grieve
to
be
backward
in
anything
that
concerned
your
interest
or
your
honour
,
sir
,
"
said
Coningsby
with
an
air
of
great
embarrassment
.
"
I
am
sure
you
would
,
I
am
sure
you
would
,
"
said
Lord
Monmouth
,
in
a
tone
of
some
kindness
.
"
And
I
feel
at
this
moment
,
"
continued
Coningsby
,
"
that
there
is
no
personal
sacrifice
which
I
am
not
prepared
to
make
for
them
,
except
one
.
My
interests
,
my
affections
,
they
should
not
be
placed
in
the
balance
,
if
yours
,
sir
,
were
at
stake
,
though
there
are
circumstances
which
might
involve
me
in
a
position
of
as
much
mental
distress
as
a
man
could
well
endure
;
but
I
claim
for
my
convictions
,
my
dear
grandfather
,
a
generous
tolerance
.
"
"
I
ca
n't
follow
you
,
sir
,
"
said
Lord
Monmouth
again
in
his
hard
tone
.
"
Our
interests
are
inseparable
,
and
therefore
there
can
never
be
any
sacrifice
of
conduct
on
your
part
.
What
you
mean
by
sacrifice
of
affections
I
do
n't
comprehend
;
but
as
for
your
opinions
,
you
have
no
business
to
have
any
other
than
those
I
uphold
.
You
are
too
young
to
form
opinions
.
"
"
I
am
sure
I
wish
to
express
them
with
no
unbecoming
confidence
;
"
replied
Coningsby
;
"
I
have
never
intruded
them
on
your
ear
before
;
but
this
being
an
occasion
,
when
you
yourself
said
,
sir
,
I
was
about
to
commence
my
public
career
,
I
confess
I
thought
it
was
my
duty
to
be
frank
;
I
would
not
entail
on
myself
long
years
of
mortification
by
one
of
those
ill-considered
entrances
into
political
life
which
so
many
public
men
have
cause
to
deplore
.
"
"
You
go
with
your
family
,
sir
,
like
a
gentleman
;
you
are
not
to
consider
your
opinions
like
a
philosopher
or
a
political
adventurer
.
"
"
Yes
,
sir
,
"
said
Coningsby
with
animation
,
"
but
men
going
with
their
families
,
like
gentlemen
,
and
losing
sight
of
every
principle
on
which
the
society
of
this
country
ought
to
be
established
,
produced
the
Reform
Bill
.
"
"
D
—
the
Reform
Bill
;
"
said
Lord
Monmouth
,
"
if
the
Duke
had
not
quarrelled
with
Lord
Grey
on
a
Coal
Committee
,
we
should
never
have
had
the
Reform
Bill
.
And
Grey
would
have
gone
to
Ireland
.
"
"
You
are
in
as
great
peril
now
as
you
were
in
1830
,
"
said
Coningsby
.
"
No
,
no
,
no
;
"
said
Lord
Monmouth
,
"
the
Tory
party
is
organized
now
;
they
will
not
catch
us
napping
again
;
these
Conservative
Associations
have
done
the
business
.
"
"
But
what
are
they
organized
for
?
"
said
Coningsby
.
"
At
the
best
to
turn
out
the
Whigs
.
And
when
you
have
turned
out
the
Whigs
,
what
then
?
You
may
get
your
Ducal
Coronet
,
sir
.
But
a
Duke
now
is
not
as
great
a
man
as
a
Baron
was
but
a
century
back
.
We
cannot
struggle
against
the
irresistible
stream
of
circumstances
.
Power
has
left
our
order
;
this
is
not
an
age
for
factitious
aristocracy
.
As
for
my
grandmother
's
barony
,
I
should
look
upon
the
termination
of
its
abeyance
in
my
favour
,
as
the
act
of
my
political
extinction
.
What
we
want
,
sir
,
is
not
to
fashion
new
Dukes
and
furbish
up
old
Baronies
;
but
to
establish
great
principles
which
may
maintain
the
realm
and
secure
the
happiness
of
the
People
.
Let
me
see
Authority
once
more
honoured
;
a
solemn
Reverence
again
the
habit
of
our
lives
;
let
me
see
Property
acknowledging
as
in
the
old
days
of
faith
,
that
Labour
is
his
twin
brother
,
and
that
the
essence
of
all
tenure
is
the
performance
of
duty
;
let
results
such
as
these
be
brought
about
,
and
let
me
participate
,
however
feebly
,
in
the
great
fulfilment
;
and
public
life
then
indeed
becomes
a
noble
career
,
and
a
seat
in
Parliament
an
enviable
distinction
.
"
"
I
tell
you
what
it
is
,
Harry
,
"
said
Lord
Monmouth
,
very
drily
,
"
members
of
this
family
may
think
as
they
like
,
but
they
must
act
as
I
please
.
You
must
go
down
on
Friday
to
Darlford
and
declare
yourself
a
candidate
for
the
town
,
or
I
shall
re-consider
our
mutual
positions
.
I
would
say
,
you
must
go
to-morrow
;
but
it
is
but
courteous
to
Rigby
to
give
him
a
previous
intimation
of
your
movement
.
And
that
cannot
be
done
to-day
.
I
sent
for
Rigby
this
morning
on
other
business
which
now
occupies
me
;
and
find
he
is
out
of
town
.
He
will
return
to-morrow
;
and
will
be
here
at
three
o'clock
,
when
you
can
meet
him
.
You
will
meet
him
I
doubt
not
like
a
man
of
sense
,
"
added
Lord
Monmouth
,
looking
at
Coningsby
with
a
glance
such
as
he
had
never
before
encountered
,
"
who
is
not
prepared
to
sacrifice
all
the
objects
of
life
,
for
the
pursuit
of
some
fantastical
puerilities
.
"
His
Lordship
rang
a
bell
on
his
table
for
Villebecque
,
and
to
prevent
any
further
conversation
,
resumed
his
papers
.
CHAPTER
IV
.
It
would
have
been
difficult
for
any
person
,
unconcious
of
crime
,
to
have
felt
more
dejected
than
Coningsby
,
when
he
rode
out
of
the
court-
yard
of
Monmouth
Houe
.
The
love
of
Edith
would
have
consoled
him
for
the
destruction
of
his
prosperity
;
the
proud
fulfilment
of
his
ambition
might
in
time
have
proved
some
compensation
for
his
crushed
affections
;
but
his
present
position
seemed
to
offer
no
single
source
of
solace
.
There
came
over
him
that
irresistable
conviction
,
that
is
at
times
the
dark
doom
of
all
of
us
,
that
the
bright
period
of
our
life
is
past
;
that
a
future
awaits
us
only
of
anxiety
,
failure
,
mortification
,
depair
;
that
none
of
our
resplendent
visions
can
be
ever
realized
,
and
that
we
add
but
one
more
victim
to
the
long
and
dreary
catalogue
of
baffled
aspirations
.
Nor
could
he
indeed
by
any
combination
see
the
means
to
extricate
himself
from
the
perils
that
were
encompassing
him
.
There
was
something
about
his
grandfather
that
defied
persuasion
.
Prone
as
eloquent
youth
generally
is
to
believe
in
the
resistless
power
of
its
appeals
,
Coningsby
despaired
at
once
of
ever
moving
Lord
Monmouth
.
There
had
been
a
callous
dryness
in
his
manner
,
an
unswerving
purpose
in
his
spirit
,
that
at
once
baffled
all
attempts
at
influence
.
Nor
could
Coningsby
forget
the
glance
he
received
when
he
quitted
the
room
.
There
was
no
possibility
of
mistaking
it
;
it
said
at
once
,
without
periphrasis
,
"
Cross
my
purpose
,
and
I
will
crush
you
.
"
This
was
the
moment
when
the
sympathy
,
if
not
the
councils
,
of
friendship
might
have
been
grateful
.
A
clever
woman
might
have
afforded
even
more
than
sympathy
;
some
happy
device
that
might
have
even
released
him
from
the
mesh
in
which
he
was
involved
.
And
once
Coningsby
had
turned
his
horse
's
head
to
Park
Lane
to
call
on
Lady
Everingham
.
But
surely
if
there
were
a
sacred
secret
in
the
world
,
it
was
the
one
which
subsisted
between
himself
and
Edith
.
No
,
that
must
never
be
violated
.
Then
there
was
Lady
Wallinger
;
he
could
at
least
speak
with
freedom
to
her
.
He
resolved
to
tell
her
all
.
He
looked
in
for
a
moment
at
a
Club
to
take
up
the
Court
Guide
and
find
her
direction
.
A
few
men
were
standing
in
a
bow
window
.
He
heard
Mr.
Cassilis
say
,
"
So
Beau
they
say
is
booked
at
last
;
the
new
beauty
,
have
you
heard
?
"
"
I
saw
him
very
sweet
on
her
last
night
,
"
rejoined
his
companion
.
"
Has
she
any
tin
?
"
"
Deuced
deal
they
say
,
"
replied
Mr.
Cassilis
.
"
The
father
's
a
Cotton
Lord
,
and
they
all
have
loads
of
tin
,
you
know
.
Nothing
like
them
now
.
"
"
He
is
in
Parliament
,
is
not
he
?
"
"
'
Gad
I
believe
he
is
,
"
said
Mr.
Cassilis
,
"
I
never
know
who
is
in
Parliament
in
these
days
.
I
remember
when
there
were
only
ten
men
in
the
House
of
Commons
who
were
not
either
members
of
Brookes
'
or
this
place
.
Everything
is
so
deuced
changed
.
"
"
I
hear
'
tis
an
old
affair
of
Beau
,
"
said
another
gentleman
.
"
It
was
all
done
a
year
ago
at
Rome
or
Paris
.
"
"
They
say
she
refused
him
then
,
"
said
Mr.
Cassilis
.
"
Well
,
that
is
tolerably
cool
for
a
manufacturer
's
daughter
,
"
said
his
friend
,
"
what
next
?
"
"
I
wonder
how
the
Duke
likes
it
,
"
said
Mr.
Cassilis
.
"
Or
the
Duchess
?
"
added
one
of
his
friends
.
"
Or
the
Everinghams
?
"
added
the
other
.
"
The
Duke
will
be
deuced
glad
to
see
Beau
settled
,
I
take
it
,
"
said
Mr.
Cassilis
.
"
A
good
deal
depends
on
the
tin
,
"
said
his
friend
.
Coningsby
threw
down
the
Court
Guide
with
a
sinking
heart
.
In
spite
of
every
insuperable
difficulty
,
hitherto
the
end
and
object
of
all
his
aspirations
and
all
his
exploits
,
sometimes
even
almost
unconsciously
to
himself
,
was
to
be
Edith
.
It
was
over
.
The
strange
manner
of
last
night
was
fatally
explained
.
The
heart
that
once
had
been
his
was
now
anothers
.
To
the
man
who
still
loves
there
is
in
that
conviction
the
most
profound
and
desolate
sorrow
of
which
our
nature
is
capable
.
All
the
recollections
of
the
past
,
all
the
once
cherished
prospects
of
the
future
,
blend
into
one
bewildering
anguish
.
Coningsby
quitted
the
Club
,
and
mounting
his
horse
,
rode
rapidly
out
of
town
,
almost
unconscious
of
his
direction
.
He
found
himself
at
length
in
a
green
lane
near
Willesden
,
silent
and
undisturbed
;
he
pulled
up
his
horse
and
he
summoned
all
his
mind
to
the
contemplation
of
his
prospects
.
Edith
was
lost
.
Now
,
should
he
return
to
his
grandfather
,
accept
his
mission
,
and
go
down
to
Darlford
on
Friday
?
Favour
and
fortune
,
power
,
prosperity
,
rank
,
distinction
would
be
the
consequence
of
this
step
.
Might
not
he
add
even
vengeance
?
Was
there
to
be
no
term
to
his
endurance
?
Might
not
he
teach
this
proud
prejudiced
manufacturer
,
with
all
his
virulence
and
despotic
caprices
,
a
memorable
lesson
?
And
his
daughter
too
,
this
betrothed
after
all
of
a
young
noble
,
with
her
flush
futurity
of
splendour
and
enjoyment
,
was
she
to
hear
of
him
only
,
if
indeed
she
heard
of
him
at
all
,
as
of
one
toiling
or
trifling
in
the
humbler
positions
of
existence
;
and
wonder
with
a
blush
that
he
ever
could
have
been
the
hero
of
her
romantic
girlhood
!
What
degradation
in
the
idea
!
His
cheek
burnt
at
the
possibility
of
such
ignominy
!
It
was
a
conjuncture
in
his
life
that
required
decision
.
He
thought
of
his
companions
who
looked
up
to
him
with
such
ardent
anticipations
of
his
fame
,
of
delight
in
his
career
,
and
confidence
in
his
leading
;
were
all
these
high
and
fond
fancies
to
be
baulked
?
On
the
very
threshold
of
life
was
he
to
blunder
?
'
Tis
the
first
step
that
leads
to
all
;
and
his
was
to
be
a
wilful
error
.
He
remembered
his
first
visit
to
his
grandfather
,
and
the
delight
of
his
friends
at
Eton
at
his
report
on
his
return
.
After
eight
years
of
initiation
,
was
he
to
lose
that
favour
then
so
highly
prized
,
when
the
results
which
they
had
so
long
counted
on
,
were
on
the
very
eve
of
accomplishment
.
Parliament
and
riches
,
and
rank
,
and
power
—
these
were
facts
,
realities
,
substances
that
none
could
mistake
.
Was
he
to
sacrifice
them
for
speculations
,
theories
,
shadows
,
perhaps
the
vapours
of
a
green
and
conceited
brain
?
No
,
by
Heaven
no
;
he
was
like
Cæsar
by
the
starry
river
's
side
,
watching
the
image
of
the
planets
on
its
fatal
waters
.
The
die
was
cast
.
The
sun
set
;
the
twilight
spell
fell
upon
his
soul
;
the
exaltation
of
his
spirit
died
away
.
Beautiful
thoughts
,
full
of
sweetness
and
tranquillity
and
consolation
,
came
clustering
round
his
heart
like
seraphs
.
He
thought
of
Edith
in
her
hours
of
fondness
;
he
thought
of
the
pure
and
solemn
moments
when
to
mingle
his
name
with
the
heroes
of
humanity
was
his
aspiration
,
and
to
achieve
immortal
fame
the
inspiring
purpose
of
his
life
.
What
were
the
tawdry
accidents
of
vulgar
ambition
to
him
!
No
domestic
despot
could
deprive
him
of
his
intellect
,
his
knowledge
,
the
sustaining
power
of
an
unpolluted
conscience
.
If
he
possessed
the
intelligence
in
which
he
had
confidence
,
the
world
would
recognise
his
voice
,
even
if
not
placed
upon
a
pedestal
.
If
the
principles
of
his
philosophy
were
true
,
the
great
heart
of
the
nation
would
respond
to
their
expression
.
Coningsby
felt
at
this
moment
a
profound
conviction
which
never
again
deserted
him
,
that
the
conduct
which
would
violate
the
affections
of
the
heart
or
the
dictates
of
the
conscience
,
however
it
may
lead
to
immediate
success
,
is
a
fatal
error
.
Conscious
that
he
was
perhaps
verging
on
some
painful
vicissitudes
of
his
life
,
he
devoted
himself
to
a
love
that
seemed
hopeless
,
and
to
a
fame
that
was
perhaps
a
dream
.
It
was
under
the
influence
of
these
solemn
resolutions
,
that
he
wrote
on
his
return
home
,
a
letter
to
Lord
Monmouth
,
in
which
he
expressed
all
that
affection
,
which
he
really
felt
for
his
grandfather
,
and
all
the
pangs
which
it
cost
him
to
adhere
to
the
conclusions
he
had
already
announced
.
In
terms
of
tenderness
and
even
humility
he
declined
to
become
a
candidate
for
Darlford
,
or
even
to
enter
Parliament
except
as
the
master
of
his
own
conduct
.
CHAPTER
V.
Lady
Monmouth
was
reclining
on
a
sofa
in
that
beautiful
boudoir
which
had
been
fitted
up
under
the
superintendance
of
Mr.
Rigby
,
but
as
he
then
believed
for
the
Princess
Colonna
.
The
walls
were
hung
with
amber
satin
,
painted
by
Laroche
with
such
subjects
as
might
be
expected
from
his
brilliant
and
picturesque
pencil
.
Fair
forms
,
heroes
and
heroines
in
dazzling
costume
,
the
offspring
of
chivalry
merging
into
what
is
commonly
styled
civilisation
,
moved
in
graceful
or
fantastic
groups
amid
palaces
and
gardens
.
The
ceiling
carved
in
the
deep
honeycomb
fashion
of
the
Saracens
was
richly
glit
and
picked
out
in
violet
.
Upon
a
violet
carpet
of
velvet
was
represented
the
marriage
of
Cupid
and
Psyche
.
It
was
about
two
hours
after
Coningsby
had
quitted
Monmouth
House
,
and
Flora
came
in
,
sent
for
by
Lady
Monmouth
,
as
was
her
custom
to
read
to
her
as
she
was
employed
with
some
light
work
.
"
'
Tis
a
new
book
of
Sue
,
"
said
Lucretia
.
"
they
say
it
is
good
.
"
Flora
seated
by
her
side
read
for
about
a
quarter
of
an
hour
.
Reading
was
an
accomplishment
which
distinguished
Flora
;
but
today
her
voice
faultered
,
her
expression
was
uncertain
;
she
seemed
but
very
imperfectly
to
comprehend
her
page
.
More
than
once
Lady
Monmouth
looked
round
at
her
with
an
inquisitive
glance
.
Suddenly
Flora
stopped
and
burst
into
tears
.
"
Oh
!
madam
,
"
she
at
last
exclaimed
,
"
if
you
would
but
speak
to
Mr.
Coningsby
all
might
be
right
!
"
"
What
is
this
?
"
said
Lady
Monmouth
,
turning
quickly
on
the
sofa
,
then
collecting
herself
in
an
instant
she
continued
with
less
abruptness
and
with
more
suavity
than
usual
,
"
tell
me
,
Flora
,
what
is
it
;
what
is
the
matter
?
"
"
My
Lord
,
"
sobbed
Flora
,
"
has
quarrelled
with
Mr.
Coningsby
.
"
An
expression
of
eager
interest
came
over
the
countenance
of
Lucretia
.
"
Why
have
they
quarrelled
?
"
"
I
do
not
know
they
have
quarrelled
;
it
is
not
perhaps
a
right
term
;
but
my
Lord
is
very
angry
with
Mr.
Coningsby
.
"
"
Not
very
angry
I
should
think
,
Flora
;
and
about
what
?
"
"
Oh
!
very
angry
,
madam
,
"
said
Flora
,
shaking
her
head
mournfully
,
"
my
Lord
told
M
.
Villebecque
that
perhaps
Mr.
Coningsby
would
never
enter
the
house
again
.
"
"
Was
it
to-day
!
"
asked
Lucretia
.
"
This
morning
;
Mr.
Coningsby
has
only
left
this
hour
or
two
.
He
will
not
do
what
my
Lord
wishes
—
about
some
seat
in
the
Chamber
.
I
do
not
know
exactly
what
it
is
;
but
my
Lord
is
in
one
of
his
moods
of
terror
;
my
father
is
frightened
even
to
go
into
his
room
,
when
he
is
so
.
"
"
Has
Mr.
Rigby
been
here
to-day
?
"
asked
Lucretia
.
"
Mr.
Rigby
is
not
in
town
.
My
father
went
for
Mr.
Rigby
this
morning
before
Mr.
Coningsby
came
,
and
he
found
that
Mr.
Rigby
was
not
in
town
.
That
is
why
I
know
it
.
"
Lady
Monmouth
rose
from
her
sofa
and
walked
once
or
twice
up
and
down
the
room
.
Then
turning
to
Flora
,
she
said
,
"
Go
away
now
;
the
book
is
stupid
;
it
does
not
amuse
me
.
Stop
:
find
out
all
you
can
for
me
about
the
quarrel
,
before
I
speak
to
Mr.
Coningsby
.
"
Flora
quitted
the
room
.
Lucretia
remained
for
some
time
in
meditation
:
then
she
wrote
a
few
lines
which
she
despatched
at
once
to
Mr.
Rigby
.
CHAPTER
VI
.
What
a
great
man
was
the
Right
Honourable
Nicholas
Rigby
!
Here
was
one
of
the
first
peers
of
England
,
and
one
of
the
finest
ladies
in
London
,
both
waiting
with
equal
anxiety
his
return
to
town
;
and
unable
to
transact
two
affairs
of
vast
importance
yet
wholly
unconnected
,
without
his
interposition
!
What
was
the
secret
of
the
influence
of
this
man
,
confided
in
by
every
body
,
trusted
by
none
?
His
councils
were
not
deep
,
his
expedients
were
not
felicitous
;
he
had
no
feeling
,
and
he
could
create
no
sympathy
.
It
is
that
in
most
of
the
transactions
of
life
there
is
some
portion
which
no
one
cares
to
accomplish
,
and
which
everybody
wishes
to
be
achieved
.
This
was
always
the
portion
of
Mr.
Rigby
.
In
the
eye
of
the
world
he
had
constantly
the
appearance
of
being
mixed
up
with
high
dealings
,
and
negotiations
and
arrangements
of
fine
management
;
where
—
as
in
truth
,
notwithstanding
his
splendid
livery
and
the
airs
he
gave
himself
in
the
servants
'
hall
,
his
real
business
in
life
had
ever
been
—
to
do
the
dirty
work
.
Mr.
Rigby
had
been
shut
up
much
at
his
villa
of
late
.
He
was
concocting
,
you
could
not
term
it
composing
,
an
article
,
a
"
very
slashing
article
,
"
which
was
to
prove
that
the
Penny
postage
must
be
the
destruction
of
the
Aristocracy
.
It
was
a
grand
subject
treated
in
his
highest
style
.
His
parallel
portraits
of
Rowland
Hill
,
the
Conqueror
of
Almarez
,
and
Rowland
Hill
the
devisor
of
the
cheap
postage
,
was
enormously
fine
.
It
was
full
of
passages
in
italics
;
little
words
in
great
capitals
;
and
almost
drew
tears
.
The
statistical
details
also
were
highly
interesting
and
novel
.
Several
of
the
old
postmen
,
both
twopenny
and
general
,
who
had
been
in
office
with
himself
,
and
who
were
inspired
with
an
equal
zeal
against
that
spirit
of
Reform
of
which
they
had
alike
been
victims
,
supplied
him
with
information
which
nothing
but
a
breach
of
ministerial
duty
could
have
furnished
.
The
prophetic
peroration
as
to
the
irresistible
progress
of
Democracy
was
almost
as
powerful
as
one
of
Rigby
's
speeches
on
Aldborough
or
Amersham
.
There
never
was
a
fellow
for
giving
a
good
hearty
kick
to
the
people
like
Rigby
.
Himself
sprung
from
the
dregs
of
the
populace
,
this
was
disinterested
.
What
could
be
more
patriotic
and
magnanimous
than
his
Jeremiads
over
the
fall
of
the
Montmorencis
and
the
Crillons
,
or
the
possible
catastrophe
of
the
Percys
and
the
Manners
!
The
truth
of
all
this
hullaballoo
was
that
Rigby
had
a
sly
pension
which
,
by
an
inevitable
association
of
ideas
,
he
always
connected
with
the
maintenance
of
an
Aristocracy
.
All
his
rigmarole
dissertations
on
the
French
Revolution
were
impelled
by
this
secret
influence
;
and
when
he
wailed
over
"
la
guerre
aux
châteaux
,
"
and
moaned
like
a
mandrake
over
Nottingham
Castle
in
flames
,
the
rogue
had
an
eye
all
the
while
to
Quarter
Day
!
Arriving
in
town
,
the
day
after
Coningsby
's
interview
with
his
grandfather
,
Mr.
Rigby
found
a
summons
to
Monmouth
House
waiting
him
,
and
an
urgent
note
from
Lucretia
begging
that
he
would
permit
nothing
to
prevent
him
seeing
her
for
a
few
minutes
before
he
called
on
the
Marquess
.
Lucretia
,
acting
on
the
unconscious
intimation
of
Flora
,
had
in
the
course
of
four-and-twenty
hours
obtained
pretty
ample
and
accurate
details
of
the
cause
of
contention
between
Coningsby
and
her
husband
.
She
could
inform
Mr.
Rigby
not
only
that
Lord
Monmouth
was
highly
incensed
against
his
grandson
;
but
that
the
cause
of
their
misunderstanding
arose
about
a
seat
in
the
House
of
Commons
,
and
that
seat
too
the
one
which
Rigby
had
long
appropriated
to
himself
,
and
over
whose
registration
he
had
watched
with
such
affectionate
solicitude
.
Lady
Monmouth
arranged
this
information
like
a
first-rate
artist
;
and
gave
it
a
grouping
and
a
colour
,
which
produced
the
liveliest
effect
upon
her
confederate
.
The
countenance
of
Rigby
was
almost
ghastly
as
he
received
the
intelligence
;
a
grin
,
half
of
malice
,
half
of
terror
,
played
over
his
features
.
"
I
told
you
to
beware
of
him
long
ago
,
"
said
Lady
Monmouth
.
"
He
is
,
he
has
ever
been
,
in
the
way
of
both
of
us
.
"
"
He
is
in
my
power
,
"
said
Rigby
;
"
we
can
crush
him
.
"
"
How
?
"
"
He
is
in
love
with
the
daughter
of
Millbank
,
the
man
who
bought
Hellingsley
.
"
"
Hah
!
"
exclaimed
Lady
Monmouth
in
a
prolonged
tone
.
"
He
was
at
Coningsby
all
last
summer
hanging
about
her
.
I
found
the
younger
Millbank
quite
domiciliated
at
the
Castle
;
a
fact
of
itself
which
,
if
known
to
Lord
Monmouth
,
would
ensure
the
lad
's
annihilation
.
"
"
And
you
kept
this
fine
news
for
a
winter
campaign
,
my
good
Mr.
Rigby
,
"
said
Lady
Monmouth
with
a
subtile
smile
.
"
It
was
a
weapon
of
service
;
I
give
you
my
compliments
.
"
"
The
time
is
not
always
ripe
,
"
said
Mr.
Rigby
.
"
But
it
is
now
most
mature
;
let
us
not
conceal
it
from
ourselves
,
that
since
his
first
visit
to
Coningsby
,
we
have
neither
of
us
really
been
in
the
same
position
which
we
then
occupied
,
or
believed
we
should
occupy
.
My
Lord
,
though
you
would
scarcely
believe
it
,
has
a
weakness
for
this
boy
;
and
though
I
by
my
marriage
,
and
you
by
your
zealous
ability
,
have
apparently
secured
a
permanent
hold
upon
his
habits
,
I
have
never
doubted
that
when
the
crisis
comes
we
shall
find
that
the
golden
fruit
is
plucked
by
one
who
has
not
watched
the
garden
.
You
take
me
?
There
is
no
reason
why
we
two
should
clash
together
;
we
can
both
of
us
find
what
we
want
;
and
more
securely
if
we
work
in
company
.
"
"
I
trust
my
devotion
to
you
has
never
been
doubted
,
dear
Madam
.
"
"
Nor
to
yourself
,
dear
Mr.
Rigby
.
Go
now
;
the
game
is
before
you
.
Rid
me
of
this
Coningsby
,
and
I
will
secure
you
all
that
you
want
.
Doubt
not
me
.
There
is
no
reason
.
I
want
a
firm
ally
.
There
must
be
two
.
"
"
It
shall
be
done
,
"
said
Rigby
,
"
it
must
be
done
.
If
once
the
notion
gets
wind
that
one
of
the
Castle
family
may
perchance
stand
for
Darlford
,
all
the
present
combinations
will
be
disorganized
.
It
must
be
done
at
once
;
I
know
that
the
government
will
dissolve
.
"
"
So
I
hear
for
certain
,
"
said
Lucretia
.
"
Be
sure
there
is
no
time
to
lose
.
What
does
he
want
with
you
to-day
?
"
"
I
know
not
;
there
are
so
many
things
.
"
"
To
be
sure
:
and
yet
I
cannot
doubt
he
will
speak
of
this
quarrel
.
Let
not
the
occasion
be
lost
.
Whatever
his
mood
,
the
subject
may
be
introduced
.
If
good
,
you
will
guide
him
more
easily
;
if
dark
,
the
love
for
the
Hellingsley
girl
,
the
fact
of
the
brother
being
in
his
Castle
,
drinking
his
wine
,
riding
his
horses
,
ordering
about
his
servants
,
you
will
omit
no
details
—
a
Millbank
quite
at
home
at
Coningsby
will
lash
him
to
madness
!
'
Tis
quite
ripe
.
Not
a
word
that
you
have
seen
me
.
Go
,
go
,
or
he
may
hear
that
you
have
arrived
.
I
shall
be
at
home
all
the
morning
.
It
will
be
but
gallant
,
that
you
should
pay
me
a
little
visit
when
you
have
transacted
your
business
.
You
understand
—
au
revoir
!
"
Lady
Monmouth
took
up
again
her
French
novel
;
but
her
eye
soon
glanced
over
the
page
,
unattached
by
its
contents
.
Her
own
existence
was
too
interesting
to
find
any
excitement
in
fiction
.
It
was
nearly
three
years
since
her
marriage
;
that
great
step
which
she
ever
had
a
conviction
was
to
lead
to
results
still
greater
.
Of
late
she
had
often
been
filled
with
a
presentiment
that
they
were
near
at
hand
;
never
more
so
than
on
this
day
.
Irresistible
was
the
current
of
associations
that
led
her
to
meditate
on
freedom
,
wealth
,
power
,
on
a
career
which
should
at
the
same
time
dazzle
the
imagination
and
gratify
her
heart
.
Notwithstanding
the
gossip
of
Paris
,
founded
on
no
authentic
knowledge
of
her
husband
's
character
or
information
,
based
on
the
hap-hazard
observations
of
the
floating
multitude
,
Lucretia
herself
had
no
reason
to
fear
that
her
influence
over
Lord
Monmouth
if
exerted
was
materially
diminished
.
But
satisfied
that
he
had
formed
no
other
tie
,
with
her
ever
the
test
of
her
position
,
she
had
not
thought
it
expedient
,
and
certainly
would
have
found
it
irksome
,
to
maintain
that
influence
by
any
ostentatious
means
.
She
knew
that
Lord
Monmouth
was
capricious
,
easily
wearied
,
soon
palled
;
and
that
on
men
who
have
no
affections
,
affection
has
no
hold
.
Their
passions
or
their
fancies
on
the
contary
,
as
it
seemed
to
her
,
are
rather
stimulated
by
neglect
or
indifference
,
provided
they
are
not
systematic
;
and
the
circumstance
of
a
wife
being
admired
by
one
,
who
is
not
her
husband
,
sometimes
wonderfully
revives
the
passion
or
renovates
the
respect
of
him
,
who
should
be
devoted
to
her
.
The
health
of
Lord
Monmouth
was
the
subject
which
never
was
long
absent
from
the
vigilance
or
meditation
of
Lucretia
.
She
was
well
assured
that
his
life
was
no
longer
secure
.
She
knew
that
after
their
marriage
,
he
had
made
a
will
which
secured
to
her
a
very
large
portion
of
his
great
wealth
,
in
case
of
their
having
no
issue
,
and
after
the
accident
at
Paris
all
hope
in
that
respect
was
over
.
Recently
the
extreme
anxiety
which
Lord
Monmouth
had
evinced
about
terminating
the
abeyance
of
the
barony
to
which
his
first
wife
was
a
co-heiress
in
favour
of
his
grandson
,
had
alarmed
Lucretia
.
To
establish
in
the
land
another
branch
of
the
House
of
Coningsby
was
evidently
the
last
excitement
of
Lord
Monmouth
,
and
perhaps
a
permanent
one
.
If
the
idea
were
once
accepted
,
notwithstanding
the
limit
to
its
endowment
which
Lord
Monmouth
might
,
at
the
first
start
,
contemplate
,
Lucretia
had
sufficiently
studied
his
temperament
to
be
convinced
that
all
his
energies
and
all
his
resources
would
ultimately
be
devoted
to
its
practical
fulfilment
.
Her
original
prejudice
against
Coningsby
and
jealousy
of
his
influence
had
therefore
of
late
been
considerably
aggravated
;
and
the
intelligence
that
for
the
first
time
there
was
a
misunderstanding
between
Coningsby
and
her
husband
filled
her
with
excitement
and
hope
.
She
knew
her
Lord
well
enough
to
feel
assured
that
the
cause
for
the
displeasure
in
the
present
instance
could
not
be
a
light
one
,
she
resolved
instantly
to
labour
that
it
should
not
be
transient
;
and
it
so
happened
that
she
had
applied
for
aid
in
this
endeavour
to
the
very
individual
in
whose
power
it
rested
to
accomplish
all
her
desire
while
in
doing
so
he
felt
at
the
same
time
he
was
defending
his
own
position
and
advancing
his
own
interests
.
Lady
Monmouth
was
now
awaiting
with
some
excitement
the
return
of
Mr.
Rigby
.
His
interview
with
his
patron
was
of
unusual
length
.
An
hour
,
and
more
than
an
hour
,
had
elapsed
.
Lady
Monmouth
again
threw
aside
the
book
which
more
than
once
she
had
discarded
.
She
paced
the
room
;
restless
rather
than
disquieted
.
She
had
complete
confidence
in
Rigby
's
ability
for
the
occasion
;
and
with
her
knowledge
of
Lord
Monmouth
's
character
,
she
could
not
contemplate
the
possibility
of
failure
,
if
the
circumstances
were
adroitly
introduced
to
his
consideration
.
Still
time
stole
on
;
the
harassing
and
exhausting
process
of
suspense
was
acting
on
her
nervous
system
.
She
began
to
think
that
Rigby
had
not
found
the
occasion
favourable
for
the
catastrophe
;
that
Lord
Monmouth
from
apprehension
of
disturbing
Rigby
and
entailing
explanations
on
himself
had
avoided
the
necessary
communication
;
that
her
skilful
combination
for
the
moment
had
missed
.
Two
hours
had
now
elapsed
,
and
Lucretia
,
in
a
state
of
considerable
irritation
was
about
to
inquire
whether
Mr.
Rigby
were
with
his
Lordship
,
when
the
door
of
her
boudoir
opened
,
and
that
gentleman
appeared
.
"
How
long
you
have
been
,
"
exclaimed
Lady
Monmouth
.
"
Now
sit
down
and
tell
me
what
has
past
.
"
Lady
Monmouth
pointed
to
the
seat
which
Flora
had
occupied
.
"
I
thank
your
Ladyship
,
"
said
Mr.
Rigby
with
a
somewhat
grave
and
yet
perplexed
expression
of
countenance
,
and
seating
himself
at
some
little
distance
from
his
companion
,
"
but
I
am
very
well
here
.
"
There
was
a
pause
.
Instead
of
responding
to
the
invitation
of
Lady
Monmouth
to
communicate
,
with
his
usual
readiness
and
volubility
,
Mr.
Rigby
was
silent
,
and
if
it
were
possible
to
use
such
an
expression
with
regard
to
such
a
gentleman
,
apparently
embarrassed
.
"
Well
,
"
said
Lady
Monmouth
.
"
Does
he
know
about
the
Millbanks
?
"
"
Everything
,
"
said
Mr.
Rigby
.
"
And
what
did
he
say
?
"
"
His
Lordship
was
greatly
shocked
,
"
replied
Mr.
Rigby
with
a
pious
expression
of
features
.
"
Such
monstrous
ingratitude
!
As
his
Lordship
very
justly
observed
,
it
is
impossible
to
say
what
is
going
on
under
my
own
roof
,
or
to
whom
I
can
trust
.
"
"
But
he
made
an
exception
in
your
favour
,
I
dare
say
,
my
dear
Mr.
Rigby
,
"
said
Lady
Monmouth
.
"
Lord
Monmouth
was
pleased
to
say
that
I
possessed
his
entire
confidence
,
"
said
Mr.
Rigby
,
"
and
that
he
looked
to
me
in
his
difficulties
.
"
"
Very
sensible
of
him
.
And
what
is
to
become
of
Mr.
Coningsby
?
"
"
The
steps
which
his
Lordship
is
about
to
take
with
reference
to
his
establishment
generally
,
"
said
Mr.
Rigby
,
"
will
allow
the
connection
that
at
present
subsists
between
that
gentleman
and
his
noble
relative
,
now
that
Lord
Monmouth
's
eyes
are
open
to
his
real
character
,
to
terminate
naturally
without
the
necessity
of
any
formal
explanation
.
"
"
But
what
do
you
mean
by
the
steps
he
is
going
to
take
in
his
establishment
generally
?
"
"
Lord
Monmouth
thinks
he
requires
change
of
scene
.
"
"
Oh
!
is
he
going
to
drag
me
abroad
again
,
"
exclaimed
Lady
Monmouth
with
great
impatience
.
"
Why
not
exactly
,
"
said
Mr.
Rigby
rather
demurely
.
"
I
hope
he
is
not
going
again
to
that
dreadful
Castle
in
Lancashire
.
"
"
Lord
Monmouth
was
thinking
that
as
you
were
tired
of
Paris
,
you
might
find
some
of
the
German
Baths
agreeable
.
"
"
Why
there
is
nothing
that
Lord
Monmouth
dislikes
so
much
as
a
German
bathing
place
!
"
"
Exactly
,
"
said
Mr.
Rigby
.
"
Then
how
capricious
in
him
,
wanting
to
go
to
them
!
"
"
He
does
not
want
to
go
to
them
.
"
"
What
do
you
mean
,
Mr.
Rigby
,
"
said
Lady
Monmouth
in
a
lower
voice
,
and
looking
him
full
in
the
face
with
a
glance
seldom
bestowed
.
There
was
a
churlish
and
unusual
look
about
Rigby
.
It
was
as
if
malignant
,
and
yet
at
the
same
time
a
little
frightened
,
he
had
screwed
himself
into
doggedness
.
"
I
mean
what
Lord
Monmouth
means
;
he
suggests
that
if
your
Ladyship
were
to
pass
the
summer
at
Kissingen
for
example
,
and
a
paragraph
in
the
Morning
Post
were
to
announce
that
his
Lordship
was
about
to
join
you
there
,
all
awkwardness
would
be
removed
;
and
no
one
could
for
a
moment
take
the
liberty
of
supposing
,
even
if
his
Lordship
did
not
ultimately
reach
you
,
that
anything
like
a
separation
had
occurred
.
"
"
A
separation
!
"
said
Lady
Monmouth
.
"
Quite
amicable
,
"
said
Mr.
Rigby
.
"
I
would
never
have
consented
to
interfere
in
the
affair
,
but
to
secure
that
most
desirable
point
.
"
"
I
will
see
Lord
Monmouth
at
once
,
"
said
Lucretia
rising
,
her
natural
pallor
aggravated
into
a
ghoul-like
tint
.
"
His
Lordship
has
gone
out
,
"
said
Mr.
Rigby
rather
stubbornly
.
"
Our
conversation
,
sir
,
then
finishes
:
I
wait
his
return
.
"
She
bowed
haughtily
.
"
His
Lordship
will
never
return
to
Monmouth
House
again
.
"
Lucretia
sprang
from
the
sofa
.
"
Miserable
craven
!
"
she
exclaimed
,
"
has
the
cowardly
tyrant
fled
?
And
he
really
thinks
that
I
am
to
be
crushed
by
such
an
instrument
as
this
!
Pah
!
He
may
leave
Monmouth
House
,
but
I
shall
not
.
Begone
,
sir
.
"
"
Still
anxious
to
secure
an
amicable
separation
,
"
said
Mr.
Rigby
,
"
your
Ladyship
must
allow
me
to
place
the
circumstances
of
the
case
fairly
before
your
excellent
judgment
.
Lord
Monmouth
has
decided
upon
a
course
;
you
know
as
well
as
me
that
he
never
swerves
from
his
resolutions
.
He
has
left
peremptory
instructions
,
and
he
will
listen
to
no
appeal
.
He
has
empowered
me
to
represent
to
your
Ladyship
that
he
wishes
in
every
way
to
consider
your
convenience
.
He
suggests
that
everything
in
short
should
be
arranged
as
if
his
Lordship
were
himself
unhappily
no
more
;
that
your
Ladyship
should
at
once
enter
into
your
jointure
,
which
shall
be
made
payable
quarterly
to
your
order
,
provided
you
can
find
it
convenient
to
live
upon
the
continent
,
"
added
Mr.
Rigby
with
some
hesitation
.
"
And
suppose
I
cannot
?
"
"
Why
then
we
will
leave
your
Ladyship
to
the
assertion
of
your
rights
.
"
"
We
!
"
"
I
beg
your
Ladyship
's
pardon
:
I
speak
as
the
friend
of
the
family
;
the
trustee
of
your
marriage
settlement
;
well-known
also
as
Lord
Monmouth
's
executor
,
"
said
Mr.
Rigby
,
his
countenance
gradually
regaining
its
usual
callous
confidence
,
and
some
degree
of
self-complacency
,
as
he
remembered
the
good
things
which
he
enumerated
.
"
I
have
decided
,
"
said
Lady
Monmouth
;
"
I
will
assert
my
rights
.
Your
master
has
mistaken
my
character
and
his
own
position
.
He
shall
rue
the
day
that
he
assailed
me
.
"
"
I
should
be
sorry
if
there
were
any
violence
,
"
said
Mr.
Rigby
,
"
especially
as
everything
is
left
to
my
management
and
control
.
An
office
indeed
which
I
only
accepted
for
your
mutual
advantage
.
I
think
upon
reflection
I
might
put
before
your
Ladyship
some
considerations
which
might
induce
you
on
the
whole
to
be
of
opinion
that
it
will
be
better
for
us
to
draw
together
in
this
business
,
as
we
have
hitherto
indeed
throughout
an
acquaintance
,
now
of
some
years
.
"
Rigby
was
resuming
all
his
usual
tone
of
brazen
familiarity
.
"
Your
self-confidence
exceeds
even
Lord
Monmouth
's
estimate
of
it
,
"
said
Lucretia
.
"
Now
,
now
,
you
are
unkind
.
Your
Ladyship
mistakes
my
position
.
I
am
interfering
in
this
business
for
your
sake
.
I
might
have
refused
the
office
.
It
would
have
fallen
to
another
,
who
would
have
fulfilled
it
without
any
delicacy
and
consideration
for
your
feelings
.
View
my
interposition
in
that
light
,
my
dear
Lady
Monmouth
,
and
circumstances
will
assume
altogether
a
new
colour
.
"
"
I
beg
that
you
would
quit
the
house
,
sir
.
"
Mr.
Rigby
shook
his
head
.
"
I
would
with
pleasure
to
oblige
you
,
were
it
in
my
power
,
but
Lord
Monmouth
has
particularly
desired
that
I
should
take
up
my
residence
here
permanently
.
The
servants
are
now
my
servants
.
It
is
useless
to
ring
the
bell
.
For
your
Ladyship
's
sake
,
I
wish
everything
to
be
accomplished
with
tranquillity
,
and
if
possible
friendliness
and
good-feeling
.
You
can
have
even
a
week
for
the
preparations
for
your
departure
if
necessary
.
I
will
take
that
upon
myself
.
Any
carriages
too
that
you
desire
;
your
jewels
;
at
least
all
those
that
are
not
at
the
banker
's
.
The
arrangement
about
your
jointure
,
your
letters
of
credit
,
even
your
passport
,
I
will
attend
to
myself
;
only
too
happy
if
by
this
painful
interference
,
I
have
in
any
way
contributed
to
soften
the
annoyance
which
at
the
first
blush
you
may
naturally
experience
,
but
which
like
everything
else
,
take
my
word
,
will
wear
off
.
"
"
I
shall
send
for
Lord
Eskdale
,
"
said
Lady
Monmouth
,
"
he
is
a
gentleman
.
"
"
I
am
quite
sure
,
"
said
Mr.
Rigby
,
"
that
Lord
Eskdale
will
give
you
the
same
advice
as
myself
,
if
he
only
reads
your
Ladyship
's
letters
,
"
he
added
slowly
,
"
to
Prince
Trautsmandorff
.
"
"
My
letters
!
"
said
Lady
Monmouth
.
"
Pardon
me
,
"
said
Rigby
,
putting
his
hand
in
his
pockets
as
if
to
guard
some
treasure
,
"
I
have
no
wish
to
revive
painful
associations
;
but
I
have
them
;
and
I
must
act
upon
them
,
if
you
persist
in
treating
me
as
a
foe
,
who
am
in
reality
your
best
friend
,
which
indeed
I
ought
to
be
,
having
the
honour
of
acting
as
trustee
under
your
marriage
settlement
,
and
having
known
you
so
many
years
.
"
"
Leave
me
for
the
present
alone
,
"
said
Lady
Monmouth
.
"
Send
me
my
servant
if
I
have
one
.
I
shall
not
remain
here
the
week
which
you
mention
,
but
quit
at
once
this
house
,
which
I
wish
I
had
never
entered
.
Adieu
!
Mr.
Rigby
,
you
are
now
Lord
of
Monmouth
House
,
and
yet
I
cannot
help
feeling
you
too
will
be
discharged
before
he
dies
.
"
Mr.
Rigby
made
Lady
Monmouth
a
bow
such
as
became
the
master
of
the
house
,
and
then
withdrew
.
CHAPTER
VII
.
A
paragraph
in
the
Morning
Post
a
few
days
after
his
interview
with
his
grandfather
,
announcing
that
Lord
and
Lady
Monmouth
had
quitted
town
for
the
Baths
of
Kissingen
,
startled
Coningsby
,
who
called
the
same
day
at
Monmouth
House
in
consequence
.
There
he
learnt
more
authentic
details
of
their
unexpected
movements
.
It
appeared
that
Lady
Monmouth
had
certainly
departed
;
and
the
porter
with
a
rather
sceptical
visage
informed
Coningsby
that
Lord
Monmouth
was
to
follow
;
but
when
he
could
not
tell
.
At
present
his
Lordship
was
at
Brighton
,
and
in
a
few
days
was
about
to
take
possession
of
a
villa
at
Richmond
which
had
for
some
time
been
fitting
up
for
him
under
the
superintendence
of
Mr.
Rigby
,
who
,
as
Coningsby
also
learnt
,
now
permanently
resided
at
Monmouth
House
.
All
this
intelligence
made
Coningsby
ponder
.
He
was
sufficiently
acquainted
with
the
parties
concerned
to
feel
assured
that
he
had
not
learnt
the
whole
truth
.
What
had
really
taken
place
,
and
what
was
the
real
cause
of
the
occurrences
,
were
equally
mystical
to
him
:
all
he
was
convinced
of
was
,
that
some
great
domestic
revolution
had
been
suddenly
effected
.
Coningsby
entertained
for
his
grandfather
a
sincere
affection
.
With
the
exception
of
their
last
unfortunate
interview
,
he
had
experienced
from
Lord
Monmouth
nothing
but
kindness
both
in
phrase
and
deed
.
There
was
also
something
in
Lord
Monmouth
,
when
he
pleased
it
,
rather
fascinating
to
young
men
;
and
as
Coningsby
had
never
occasioned
him
any
feelings
but
pleasurable
ones
,
he
was
always
disposed
to
make
himself
delightful
to
his
grandson
.
The
experience
of
a
consummate
man
of
the
world
advanced
in
life
,
detailed
without
rigidity
to
youth
,
with
frankness
and
facility
,
is
bewitching
.
Lord
Monmouth
was
never
garrulous
:
he
was
always
pithy
and
could
be
picturesque
.
He
revealed
a
character
in
a
sentence
;
and
detected
the
ruling
passion
with
the
hand
of
a
master
.
Besides
he
had
seen
everybody
and
had
done
everything
;
and
though
on
the
whole
too
indolent
for
conversation
,
and
loving
to
be
talked
to
,
these
were
circumstances
which
made
his
too
rare
communications
the
more
precious
.
With
these
feelings
Coningsby
resolved
the
moment
that
he
learned
that
his
grandfather
was
established
at
Richmond
to
pay
him
a
visit
.
He
was
informed
that
Lord
Monmouth
was
at
home
,
and
he
was
shown
into
a
drawingroom
,
where
he
found
two
French
ladies
in
their
bonnets
,
who
he
soon
discovered
to
be
actresses
.
They
also
had
come
down
to
pay
a
visit
to
his
grandfather
,
and
were
by
no
means
displeased
to
pass
the
interval
that
was
to
elapse
before
they
had
that
pleasure
,
in
chatting
with
his
grandson
.
Coningsby
found
them
extremely
amusing
;
with
the
finest
spirits
in
the
world
,
imperturbable
good
temper
,
and
an
unconscious
practical
philosophy
,
that
defied
the
devil
Care
and
all
his
works
.
And
well
it
was
,
that
he
found
such
agreeable
companions
,
for
time
flowed
on
,
and
no
summons
arrived
to
call
him
to
his
grandfather
's
presence
,
and
no
herald
to
announce
his
grandfather
's
advent
.
The
ladies
and
Coningsby
had
exhausted
badinage
;
they
had
examined
and
criticised
all
the
furniture
;
had
rifled
the
vases
of
their
prettiest
flowers
;
and
Clotilde
who
had
already
sung
several
times
,
was
proposing
a
duet
to
Ermengarde
,
when
a
servant
entered
,
and
told
the
ladies
that
a
carriage
was
in
attendance
to
give
them
an
airing
,
and
after
that
Lord
Monmouth
hoped
they
would
return
and
dine
with
him
;
then
turning
to
Coningsby
he
informed
him
with
his
Lord
's
compliments
,
that
Lord
Monmouth
was
sorry
he
was
too
much
engaged
to
see
him
.
Nothing
was
to
be
done
but
to
put
a
tolerably
good
face
upon
it
.
"
Embrace
Lord
Monmouth
for
me
,
"
said
Coningsby
to
his
fair
friends
,
"
and
tell
him
I
think
it
very
unkind
that
he
did
not
ask
me
to
dinner
with
you
.
"
Coningsby
said
this
with
a
gay
air
,
but
really
with
a
depressed
spirit
.
He
felt
convinced
that
his
grandfather
was
deeply
displeased
with
him
,
and
as
he
rode
away
from
the
villa
,
he
could
not
resist
the
strong
impression
that
he
was
destined
never
to
enter
it
.
Yet
it
was
decreed
otherwise
.
It
so
happened
that
the
idle
message
which
Coningsby
had
left
for
his
grandfather
,
and
which
he
never
seriously
supposed
for
a
moment
that
his
late
companions
would
have
given
their
host
,
operated
entirely
in
his
favour
.
Whatever
were
the
feelings
with
respect
to
Coningsby
at
the
bottom
of
Lord
Monmouth
's
heart
,
he
was
actuated
in
his
refusal
to
see
him
not
more
from
displeasure
,
than
from
an
anticipatory
horror
of
something
like
a
scene
.
Even
a
surrender
from
Coningsby
without
terms
,
and
an
offer
to
declare
himself
a
candidate
for
Darlford
,
or
to
do
anything
else
that
his
grandfather
wished
,
would
have
been
disagreeable
to
Lord
Monmouth
in
his
present
mood
.
As
in
politics
a
revolution
is
often
followed
by
a
season
of
torpor
,
so
in
the
case
of
Lord
Monmouth
,
the
separation
from
his
wife
,
which
had
for
a
long
period
occupied
his
meditation
,
was
succeeded
by
a
vein
of
mental
dissipation
.
He
did
not
wish
to
be
reminded
by
anything
or
any
person
that
he
had
still
in
some
degree
the
misfortune
of
being
a
responsible
member
of
society
.
He
wanted
to
be
surrounded
by
individuals
who
were
above
or
below
the
conventional
interests
of
what
is
called
"
the
World
.
"
He
wanted
to
hear
nothing
of
those
painful
and
embarrassing
influences
which
from
our
contracted
experience
and
want
of
enlightenment
,
we
magnify
into
such
undue
importance
.
For
this
purpose
he
wished
to
have
about
him
persons
whose
knowledge
of
the
cares
of
life
concerned
only
the
means
of
existence
;
and
whose
sense
of
its
objects
referred
only
to
the
sources
of
enjoyment
;
persons
who
had
not
been
educated
in
the
idolatry
of
Respectability
;
that
is
to
say
,
of
realizing
such
an
amount
of
what
is
termed
Character
by
a
hypocritical
deference
to
the
prejudices
of
the
community
,
as
may
enable
them
at
suitable
times
,
and
under
convenient
circumstances
and
disguises
,
to
plunder
the
Public
.
This
was
the
Monmouth
Philosophy
.
With
these
feelings
,
Lord
Monmouth
recoiled
at
this
moment
from
grandsons
and
relations
and
ties
of
all
kinds
.
He
did
not
wish
to
be
reminded
of
his
identity
;
but
to
swim
unmolested
and
undisturbed
in
his
Epicurean
dream
.
When
therefore
his
fair
visitors
,
Clotilde
who
opened
her
mouth
only
to
breathe
roses
and
diamonds
;
and
Ermengarde
who
was
so
good-natured
that
she
sacrificed
even
her
lovers
to
her
friends
;
saw
him
merely
to
exclaim
at
the
same
moment
,
and
with
the
same
voices
of
thrilling
joyousness
.
"
Why
did
not
you
ask
him
to
dinner
!
"
And
then
without
waiting
for
his
reply
entered
with
that
rapidity
of
elocution
which
Frenchwomen
can
alone
command
into
the
catalogue
of
his
charms
and
accomplishments
,
Lord
Monmouth
began
to
regret
that
he
really
had
not
seen
Coningsby
who
it
appears
might
have
greatly
contributed
to
the
pleasure
of
the
day
.
The
message
which
was
duly
given
however
settled
the
business
.
Lord
Monmouth
felt
that
any
chance
of
explanations
or
even
allusions
to
the
past
was
out
of
the
question
;
and
to
defend
himself
from
the
accusations
of
his
animated
guests
,
he
said
,
"
Well
,
he
shall
come
to
dine
with
you
next
time
.
"
There
is
no
end
to
the
influence
of
woman
on
our
life
.
It
is
at
the
bottom
of
everything
that
happens
to
us
.
And
so
it
was
,
that
,
in
spite
of
all
the
combinations
of
Lucretia
and
Mr.
Rigby
,
and
the
mortification
and
resentment
of
Lord
Monmouth
,
the
favourable
impression
he
casually
made
on
a
couple
of
French
actresses
occasioned
Coningsby
,
before
a
month
had
elapsed
since
his
memorable
interview
at
Monmouth
House
,
to
receive
an
invitation
again
to
dine
with
his
grandfather
.
The
party
was
very
agreeable
.
Clotilde
and
Ermengarde
had
wits
as
sparkling
as
their
eyes
.
There
was
the
manager
of
the
Opera
,
a
great
friend
of
Villebecque
,
and
his
wife
,
a
very
splendid
lady
who
had
been
a
prima
donna
of
celebrity
,
and
still
had
a
commanding
voice
for
a
chamber
.
A
Carlist
nobleman
who
lived
upon
his
traditions
,
and
who
though
without
a
sou
could
tell
of
a
festival
given
by
his
family
before
the
revolution
which
had
cost
a
million
of
francs
,
and
a
Neapolitan
physician
,
in
whom
Lord
Monmouth
had
great
confidence
and
who
himself
believed
in
the
Elixir
Vitæ
,
made
up
the
party
with
Lucian
Gay
,
Coningsby
and
Mr.
Rigby
.
Our
hero
remarked
that
Villebecque
on
this
occasion
sat
at
the
bottom
of
the
table
,
but
Flora
did
not
appear
.
In
the
meantime
,
the
month
which
brought
about
this
satisfactory
,
and
at
one
time
unexpected
,
result
,
was
fruitful
also
in
other
circumstances
still
more
interesting
.
Coningsby
and
Edith
met
frequently
,
if
to
breathe
the
same
atmosphere
in
the
same
crowded
saloons
can
be
described
as
meeting
;
ever
watching
each
other
's
movements
and
yet
studious
never
to
encounter
each
other
's
glance
.
The
charms
of
Miss
Millbank
had
become
an
universal
topic
;
they
were
celebrated
in
ball
rooms
,
they
were
discussed
at
clubs
;
Edith
was
the
beauty
of
the
season
.
All
admired
her
,
many
sighed
even
to
express
their
admiration
;
but
the
devotion
of
Lord
Beaumanoir
,
who
always
hovered
about
her
,
deterred
them
from
a
rivalry
which
might
have
made
the
boldest
despair
.
As
for
Coningsby
,
he
passed
his
life
principally
with
the
various
members
of
the
Sydney
family
;
and
was
almost
daily
riding
with
Lady
Everingham
and
her
sister
,
generally
accompanied
by
Lord
Henry
and
his
friend
Eustace
Lyle
,
between
whom
indeed
and
Coningsby
there
were
relations
of
intimacy
scarcely
less
inseparable
.
Coningsby
had
spoken
to
Lady
Everingham
of
the
rumoured
marriage
of
her
elder
brother
,
and
found
,
although
the
family
had
not
yet
been
formally
apprised
of
it
,
she
entertained
very
little
doubt
of
its
ultimate
occurrence
.
She
admired
Miss
Millbank
with
whom
her
acquaintance
continued
slight
;
and
she
wished
of
course
that
her
brother
should
marry
and
be
happy
,
"
but
Percy
is
often
in
love
,
"
she
would
add
,
"
and
never
likes
us
to
be
very
intimate
with
his
inamoratas
.
He
thinks
it
destroys
the
romance
;
and
that
domestic
familiarity
may
compromise
his
heroic
character
.
However
,
"
she
added
,
"
I
really
believe
that
will
be
a
match
.
"
On
the
whole
,
though
he
bore
a
serene
aspect
to
the
world
,
Coningsby
passed
this
month
in
a
state
of
restless
misery
.
His
soul
was
brooding
on
one
subject
and
he
had
no
confidant
;
he
could
not
resist
the
spell
that
impelled
him
to
the
society
where
Edith
might
at
least
be
seen
;
and
the
circle
in
which
he
lived
was
one
in
which
her
name
was
frequently
mentioned
.
Alone
,
in
his
solitary
rooms
in
the
Albany
,
he
felt
all
his
desolation
;
and
often
a
few
minutes
before
he
figured
in
the
world
apparently
followed
and
courted
by
all
,
he
had
been
plunged
in
the
darkest
fits
of
irremediable
wetchedness
.
He
had
of
course
frequently
met
Lady
Wallinger
,
but
their
salutations
though
never
omitted
and
on
each
side
cordial
,
were
brief
.
There
seemed
to
be
a
tacit
understanding
between
them
not
to
refer
to
a
subject
fruitful
in
painful
reminiscences
.
The
season
waned
;
in
the
fulfilment
of
a
project
originally
formed
in
the
Playing
fields
of
Eton
,
often
recurred
to
at
Cambridge
,
and
cherished
with
the
fondness
with
which
men
cling
to
a
scheme
of
early
youth
,
Coningsby
,
Henry
Sydney
,
Vere
and
Buckhurst
,
had
engaged
some
moors
together
this
year
;
and
in
a
few
days
they
were
about
to
quit
town
for
Scotland
.
They
had
pressed
Eustace
Lyle
to
accompany
them
,
but
he
who
in
general
seemed
to
have
no
pleasure
greater
than
their
society
had
surprised
them
by
declining
their
invitation
,
with
some
vague
mention
that
he
rather
thought
he
should
go
abroad
.
It
was
the
last
day
of
July
,
and
all
the
world
were
at
a
breakfast
given
,
at
a
fanciful
cottage
,
situate
in
beautiful
gardens
on
the
banks
of
the
Thames
,
by
Lady
Everingham
.
The
weather
was
as
bright
as
the
romances
of
Boccacio
;
there
were
pyramids
of
strawberries
in
bowls
colossal
enough
to
hold
orange
trees
;
and
the
choicest
bands
filled
the
air
with
enchanting
strains
,
while
a
brilliant
multitude
sauntered
on
turf
like
velvet
,
or
roamed
in
desultory
existence
amid
the
quivering
shades
of
winding
walks
.
"
My
fête
was
prophetic
,
"
said
Lady
Everingham
when
she
saw
Coningsby
.
"
I
am
glad
it
is
connected
with
an
incident
.
It
gives
it
a
point
.
"
"
You
are
mystical
as
well
as
prophetic
.
Tell
me
what
are
we
to
celebrate
.
"
"
Theresa
is
going
to
be
married
.
"
"
Then
I
too
will
prophecy
and
name
the
hero
of
the
romance
—
Eustace
Lyle
.
"
"
You
have
been
more
prescient
than
me
,
"
said
Lady
Everingham
,
"
perhaps
because
I
was
thinking
too
much
of
some
one
else
.
"
"
It
seems
to
me
an
union
which
all
must
acknowledge
perfect
.
I
hardly
know
which
I
love
best
.
I
have
had
my
suspicions
a
long
time
;
and
when
Eustace
refused
to
go
to
the
moors
with
us
,
though
I
said
nothing
,
I
was
convinced
.
"
"
At
any
rate
,
"
said
Lady
Everingham
sighing
with
a
rather
smiling
face
,
"
we
are
kinsfolk
Mr.
Coningsby
;
though
I
would
gladly
have
wished
to
have
been
more
.
"
"
Were
those
your
thoughts
,
dear
Lady
?
Ever
kind
to
me
!
But
such
happiness
,
"
he
added
in
a
mournful
tone
,
"
I
fear
can
never
be
mine
.
"
"
And
why
?
"
"
Ah
!
'
tis
a
tale
too
strange
and
sorrowful
for
a
day
when
like
Seged
we
must
all
determine
to
be
happy
.
"
"
You
have
already
made
me
miserable
.
"
"
Here
comes
a
group
that
will
make
you
gay
,
"
said
Coningsby
as
he
moved
on
.
Edith
and
the
Wallingers
accompanied
by
Lord
