ENDYMION
By
the
author
of
"
Lothair
"
Quicquid
agunt
homines
In
three
volumes
London
Longmans
,
Green
,
and
co.
1880
All
rights
reserved
VOL.
I
.
CHAPTER
I
It
was
a
rich
,
warm
night
,
at
the
beginning
of
August
,
when
a
gentleman
enveloped
in
a
cloak
,
for
he
was
in
evening
dress
,
emerged
from
a
club-house
at
the
top
of
St.
James’
Street
,
and
descended
that
celebrated
eminence
.
He
had
not
proceeded
more
than
half
way
down
the
street
when
,
encountering
a
friend
,
he
stopped
with
some
abruptness
.
“
I
have
been
looking
for
you
everywhere
,
”
he
said
.
“
What
is
it
?
”
“
We
can
hardly
talk
about
it
here
.
”
“
Shall
we
go
to
White’s
?
”
“
I
have
just
left
it
,
and
,
between
ourselves
,
I
would
rather
we
should
be
more
alone
.
‘Tis
as
warm
as
noon
.
Let
us
cross
the
street
and
get
into
St.
James’
Place
.
That
is
always
my
idea
of
solitude
.
”
So
they
crossed
the
street
,
and
,
at
the
corner
of
St.
James’
Place
,
met
several
gentlemen
who
had
just
come
out
of
Brookes’
Club-house
.
These
saluted
the
companions
as
they
passed
,
and
said
,
“
Capital
account
from
Chiswick
—
Lord
Howard
says
the
chief
will
be
in
Downing
Street
on
Monday
.
”
“
It
is
of
Chiswick
that
I
am
going
to
speak
to
you
,
”
said
the
gentleman
in
the
cloak
,
putting
his
arm
in
that
of
his
companion
as
they
walked
on
.
“
What
I
am
about
to
tell
you
is
known
only
to
three
persons
,
and
is
the
most
sacred
of
secrets
.
Nothing
but
our
friendship
could
authorise
me
to
impart
it
to
you
.
”
“
I
hope
it
is
something
to
your
advantage
,
”
said
his
companion
.
“
Nothing
of
that
sort
;
it
is
of
yourself
that
I
am
thinking
.
Since
our
political
estrangement
,
I
have
never
had
a
contented
moment
.
From
Christ
Church
,
until
that
unhappy
paralytic
stroke
,
which
broke
up
a
government
that
had
lasted
fifteen
years
,
and
might
have
continued
fifteen
more
,
we
seemed
always
to
have
been
working
together
.
That
we
should
again
unite
is
my
dearest
wish
.
A
crisis
is
at
hand
.
I
want
you
to
use
it
to
your
advantage
.
Know
then
,
that
what
they
were
just
saying
about
Chiswick
is
moonshine
.
His
case
is
hopeless
,
and
it
has
been
communicated
to
the
King
.
”
“
Hopeless
!
”
“
Rely
upon
it
;
it
came
direct
from
the
Cottage
to
my
friend
.
”
“
I
thought
he
had
a
mission
?
”
said
his
companion
,
with
emotion
;
“
and
men
with
missions
do
not
disappear
till
they
have
fulfilled
them
.
”
“
But
why
did
you
think
so
?
How
often
have
I
asked
you
for
your
grounds
for
such
a
conviction
!
There
are
none
.
The
man
of
the
age
is
clearly
the
Duke
,
the
saviour
of
Europe
,
in
the
perfection
of
manhood
,
and
with
an
iron
constitution
.
”
“
The
salvation
of
Europe
is
the
affair
of
a
past
generation
,
”
said
his
companion
.
“
We
want
something
else
now
.
The
salvation
of
England
should
be
the
subject
rather
of
our
present
thoughts
.
”
“
England
!
why
when
were
things
more
sound
?
Except
the
split
among
our
own
men
,
which
will
be
now
cured
,
there
is
not
a
cause
of
disquietude
.
”
“
I
have
much
,
”
said
his
friend
.
“
You
never
used
to
have
any
,
Sidney
.
What
extraordinary
revelations
can
have
been
made
to
you
during
three
months
of
office
under
a
semi-Whig
Ministry
?
”
“
Your
taunt
is
fair
,
though
it
pains
me
.
And
I
confess
to
you
that
when
I
resolved
to
follow
Canning
and
join
his
new
allies
,
I
had
many
a
twinge
.
I
was
bred
in
the
Tory
camp
;
the
Tories
put
me
in
Parliament
and
gave
me
office
;
I
lived
with
them
and
liked
them
;
we
dined
and
voted
together
,
and
together
pasquinaded
our
opponents
.
And
yet
,
after
Castlereagh’s
death
,
to
whom
like
yourself
I
was
much
attached
,
I
had
great
misgivings
as
to
the
position
of
our
party
,
and
the
future
of
the
country
.
I
tried
to
drive
them
from
my
mind
,
and
at
last
took
refuge
in
Canning
,
who
seemed
just
the
man
appointed
for
an
age
of
transition
.
”
“
But
a
transition
to
what
?
”
“
Well
,
his
foreign
policy
was
Liberal
.
”
“
The
same
as
the
Duke’s
;
the
same
as
poor
dear
Castlereagh’s
.
Nothing
more
unjust
than
the
affected
belief
that
there
was
any
difference
between
them
—
a
ruse
of
the
Whigs
to
foster
discord
in
our
ranks
.
And
as
for
domestic
affairs
,
no
one
is
stouter
against
Parliamentary
Reform
,
while
he
is
for
the
Church
and
no
surrender
,
though
he
may
make
a
harmless
speech
now
and
then
,
as
many
of
us
do
,
in
favour
of
the
Catholic
claims
.
”
“
Well
,
we
will
not
now
pursue
this
old
controversy
,
my
dear
Ferrars
,
particularly
if
it
be
true
,
as
you
say
,
that
Mr.
Canning
now
lies
upon
his
deathbed
.
”
“
If
!
I
tell
you
at
this
very
moment
it
may
be
all
over
.
”
“
I
am
shaken
to
my
very
centre
.
”
“
It
is
doubtless
a
great
blow
to
you
,
”
rejoined
Mr.
Ferrars
,
“
and
I
wish
to
alleviate
it
.
That
is
why
I
was
looking
for
you
.
The
King
will
,
of
course
,
send
for
the
Duke
,
but
I
can
tell
you
there
will
be
a
disposition
to
draw
back
our
friends
that
left
us
,
at
least
the
younger
ones
of
promise
.
If
you
are
awake
,
there
is
no
reason
why
you
should
not
retain
your
office
.
”
“
I
am
not
so
sure
the
King
will
send
for
the
Duke
.
”
“
It
is
certain
.
”
“
Well
,
”
said
his
companion
musingly
,
“
it
may
be
fancy
,
but
I
cannot
resist
the
feeling
that
this
country
,
and
the
world
generally
,
are
on
the
eve
of
a
great
change
—
and
I
do
not
think
the
Duke
is
the
man
for
the
epoch
.
”
“
I
see
no
reason
why
there
should
be
any
great
change
;
certainly
not
in
this
country
,
”
said
Mr.
Ferrars
.
“
Here
we
have
changed
everything
that
was
required
.
Peel
has
settled
the
criminal
law
,
and
Huskisson
the
currency
,
and
though
I
am
prepared
myself
still
further
to
reduce
the
duties
on
foreign
imports
,
no
one
can
deny
that
on
this
subject
the
Government
is
in
advance
of
public
opinion
.
”
“
The
whole
affair
rests
on
too
contracted
a
basis
,
”
said
his
companion
.
“
We
are
habituated
to
its
exclusiveness
,
and
,
no
doubt
,
custom
in
England
is
a
power
;
but
let
some
event
suddenly
occur
which
makes
a
nation
feel
or
think
,
and
the
whole
thing
might
vanish
like
a
dream
.
”
“
What
can
happen
?
Such
affairs
as
the
Luddites
do
not
occur
twice
in
a
century
,
and
as
for
Spafields
riots
,
they
are
impossible
now
with
Peel’s
new
police
.
The
country
is
employed
and
prosperous
,
and
were
it
not
so
,
the
landed
interest
would
always
keep
things
straight
.
”
“
It
is
powerful
,
and
has
been
powerful
for
a
long
time
;
but
there
are
other
interests
besides
the
landed
interest
now
.
”
“
Well
,
there
is
the
colonial
interest
,
and
the
shipping
interest
,
”
said
Mr.
Ferrars
,
“
and
both
of
them
thoroughly
with
us
.
”
“
I
was
not
thinking
of
them
,
”
said
his
companion
.
“
It
is
the
increase
of
population
,
and
of
a
population
not
employed
in
the
cultivation
of
the
soil
,
and
all
the
consequences
of
such
circumstances
that
were
passing
over
my
mind
.
”
“
Don’t
you
be
too
doctrinaire
,
my
dear
Sidney
;
you
and
I
are
practical
men
.
We
must
deal
with
the
existing
,
the
urgent
;
and
there
is
nothing
more
pressing
at
this
moment
than
the
formation
of
a
new
government
.
What
I
want
is
to
see
you
as
a
member
of
it
.
”
“
Ah
!
”
said
his
companion
with
a
sigh
,
“
do
you
really
think
it
so
near
as
that
?
”
“
Why
,
what
have
we
been
talking
of
all
this
time
,
my
dear
Sidney
?
Clear
your
head
of
all
doubt
,
and
,
if
possible
,
of
all
regrets
;
we
must
deal
with
the
facts
,
and
we
must
deal
with
them
to-morrow
.
”
“
I
still
think
he
had
a
mission
,
”
said
Sidney
with
a
sigh
,
“
if
it
were
only
to
bring
hope
to
a
people
.
”
“
Well
,
I
do
not
see
he
could
have
done
anything
more
,
”
said
Mr.
Ferrars
,
“
nor
do
I
believe
his
government
would
have
lasted
during
the
session
.
However
,
I
must
now
say
good-night
,
for
I
must
look
in
at
the
Square
.
Think
well
of
what
I
have
said
,
and
let
me
hear
from
you
as
soon
as
you
can
.
”
CHAPTER
II
Zenobia
was
the
queen
of
London
,
of
fashion
,
and
of
the
Tory
party
.
When
she
was
not
holding
high
festivals
,
or
attending
them
,
she
was
always
at
home
to
her
intimates
,
and
as
she
deigned
but
rarely
to
honour
the
assemblies
of
others
with
her
presence
,
she
was
generally
at
her
evening
post
to
receive
the
initiated
.
To
be
her
invited
guest
under
such
circumstances
proved
at
once
that
you
had
entered
the
highest
circle
of
the
social
Paradise
.
Zenobia
was
leaning
back
on
a
brilliant
sofa
,
supported
by
many
cushions
,
and
a
great
personage
,
grey-headed
and
blue-ribboned
,
who
was
permitted
to
share
the
honours
of
the
high
place
,
was
hanging
on
her
animated
and
inspiring
accents
.
An
ambassador
,
in
an
armed
chair
which
he
had
placed
somewhat
before
her
,
while
he
listened
with
apparent
devotion
to
the
oracle
,
now
and
then
interposed
a
remark
,
polished
and
occasionally
cynical
.
More
remote
,
some
dames
of
high
degree
were
surrounded
by
a
chosen
band
of
rank
and
fashion
and
celebrity
;
and
now
and
then
was
heard
a
silver
laugh
,
and
now
and
then
was
breathed
a
gentle
sigh
.
Servants
glided
about
the
suite
of
summer
chambers
,
occasionally
with
sherbets
and
ices
,
and
sometimes
a
lady
entered
and
saluted
Zenobia
,
and
then
retreated
to
the
general
group
,
and
sometimes
a
gentleman
entered
,
and
pressed
the
hand
of
Zenobia
to
his
lips
,
and
then
vanished
into
air
.
“
What
I
want
you
to
see
,
”
said
Zenobia
,
“
is
that
reaction
is
the
law
of
life
,
and
that
we
are
on
the
eve
of
a
great
reaction
.
Since
Lord
Castlereagh’s
death
we
have
had
five
years
of
revolution
—
nothing
but
change
,
and
every
change
has
been
disastrous
.
Abroad
we
are
in
league
with
all
the
conspirators
of
the
Continent
,
and
if
there
were
a
general
war
we
should
not
have
an
ally
;
at
home
our
trade
,
I
am
told
,
is
quite
ruined
,
and
we
are
deluged
with
foreign
articles
;
while
,
thanks
to
Mr.
Huskisson
,
the
country
banks
,
which
enabled
Mr.
Pitt
to
carry
on
the
war
and
saved
England
,
are
all
broken
.
There
was
one
thing
,
of
which
I
thought
we
should
always
be
proud
,
and
that
was
our
laws
and
their
administration
;
but
now
our
most
sacred
enactments
are
questioned
,
and
people
are
told
to
call
out
for
the
reform
of
our
courts
of
judicature
,
which
used
to
be
the
glory
of
the
land
.
This
cannot
last
.
I
see
,
indeed
,
many
signs
of
national
disgust
;
people
would
have
borne
a
great
deal
from
poor
Lord
Liverpool
—
for
they
knew
he
was
a
good
man
,
though
I
always
thought
a
weak
one
;
but
when
it
was
found
that
his
boasted
Liberalism
only
meant
letting
the
Whigs
into
office
—
who
,
if
they
had
always
been
in
office
,
would
have
made
us
the
slaves
of
Bonaparte
—
their
eyes
were
opened
.
Depend
upon
it
,
the
reaction
has
commenced
.
”
“
We
shall
have
some
trouble
with
France
,
”
said
the
ambassador
,
“
unless
there
is
a
change
here
.
”
“
The
Church
is
weary
of
the
present
men
,
”
said
the
great
personage
.
“
No
one
really
knows
what
they
are
after
.
”
“
And
how
can
the
country
be
governed
without
the
Church
?
”
exclaimed
Zenobia
.
“
If
the
country
once
thinks
the
Church
is
in
danger
,
the
affair
will
soon
be
finished
.
The
King
ought
to
be
told
what
is
going
on
.
”
“
Nothing
is
going
on
,
”
said
the
ambassador
;
“
but
everybody
is
afraid
of
something
.
”
“
The
King’s
friends
should
impress
upon
him
never
to
lose
sight
of
the
landed
interest
,
”
said
the
great
personage
.
“
How
can
any
government
go
on
without
the
support
of
the
Church
and
the
land
?
”
exclaimed
Zenobia
.
“
It
is
quite
unnatural
.
”
“
That
is
the
mystery
,
”
remarked
the
ambassador
.
“
Here
is
a
government
,
supported
by
none
of
the
influences
hitherto
deemed
indispensable
,
and
yet
it
exists
.
”
“
The
newspapers
support
it
,
”
said
the
great
personage
,
“
and
the
Dissenters
,
who
are
trying
to
bring
themselves
into
notice
,
and
who
are
said
to
have
some
influence
in
the
northern
counties
,
and
the
Whigs
,
who
are
in
a
hole
,
are
willing
to
seize
the
hand
of
the
ministry
to
help
them
out
of
it
;
and
then
there
is
always
a
number
of
people
who
will
support
any
government
—
and
so
the
thing
works
.
”
“
They
have
got
a
new
name
for
this
hybrid
sentiment
,
”
said
the
ambassador
.
“
They
call
it
public
opinion
.
”
“
How
very
absurd
!
”
said
Zenobia
;
“
a
mere
nickname
.
As
if
there
could
be
any
opinion
but
that
of
the
Sovereign
and
the
two
Houses
of
Parliament
.
”
“
They
are
trying
to
introduce
here
the
continental
Liberalism
,
”
said
the
great
personage
.
“
Now
we
know
what
Liberalism
means
on
the
continent
.
It
means
the
abolition
of
property
and
religion
.
Those
ideas
would
not
suit
this
country
;
and
I
often
puzzle
myself
to
foresee
how
they
will
attempt
to
apply
Liberal
opinions
here
.
”
“
I
shall
always
think
,
”
said
Zenobia
,
“
that
Lord
Liverpool
went
much
too
far
,
though
I
never
said
so
in
his
time
;
for
I
always
uphold
my
friends
.
”
“
Well
,
we
shall
see
what
Canning
will
do
about
the
Test
and
Corporation
Acts
,
”
said
the
great
personage
.
“
I
understand
they
mean
to
push
him
.
”
“
By
the
by
,
how
is
he
really
?
”
said
the
ambassador
.
“
What
are
the
accounts
this
afternoon
?
”
“
Here
is
a
gentleman
who
will
tell
us
,
”
said
Zenobia
,
as
Mr.
Ferrars
entered
and
saluted
her
.
“
And
what
is
your
news
from
Chiswick
?
”
she
inquired
.
“
They
say
at
Brookes’
,
that
he
will
be
at
Downing
Street
on
Monday
.
”
“
I
doubt
it
,
”
said
Zenobia
,
but
with
an
expression
of
disappointment
.
Zenobia
invited
Mr.
Ferrars
to
join
her
immediate
circle
.
The
great
personage
and
the
ambassador
were
confidentially
affable
to
one
whom
Zenobia
so
distinguished
.
Their
conversation
was
in
hushed
tones
,
as
become
the
initiated
.
Even
Zenobia
seemed
subdued
,
and
listened
;
and
to
listen
,
among
her
many
talents
,
was
perhaps
her
rarest
.
Mr.
Ferrars
was
one
of
her
favourites
,
and
Zenobia
liked
young
men
who
she
thought
would
become
Ministers
of
State
.
An
Hungarian
Princess
who
had
quitted
the
opera
early
that
she
might
look
in
at
Zenobia’s
was
now
announced
.
The
arrival
of
this
great
lady
made
a
stir
.
Zenobia
embraced
her
,
and
the
great
personage
with
affectionate
homage
yielded
to
her
instantly
the
place
of
honour
,
and
then
soon
retreated
to
the
laughing
voices
in
the
distance
that
had
already
more
than
once
attracted
and
charmed
his
ear
.
“
Mind
;
I
see
you
to-morrow
,
”
said
Zenobia
to
Mr.
Ferrars
as
he
also
withdrew
.
“
I
shall
have
something
to
tell
you
.
”
CHAPTER
III
The
father
of
Mr.
Ferrars
had
the
reputation
of
being
the
son
of
a
once
somewhat
celebrated
statesman
,
but
the
only
patrimony
he
inherited
from
his
presumed
parent
was
a
clerkship
in
the
Treasury
,
where
he
found
himself
drudging
at
an
early
age
.
Nature
had
endowed
him
with
considerable
abilities
,
and
peculiarly
adapted
to
the
scene
of
their
display
.
It
was
difficult
to
decide
which
was
most
remarkable
,
his
shrewdness
or
his
capacity
of
labour
.
His
quickness
of
perception
and
mastery
of
details
made
him
in
a
few
years
an
authority
in
the
office
,
and
a
Secretary
of
the
Treasury
,
who
was
quite
ignorant
of
details
,
but
who
was
a
good
judge
of
human
character
,
had
the
sense
to
appoint
Ferrars
his
private
secretary
.
This
happy
preferment
in
time
opened
the
whole
official
world
to
one
not
only
singularly
qualified
for
that
kind
of
life
,
but
who
possessed
the
peculiar
gifts
that
were
then
commencing
to
be
much
in
demand
in
those
circles
.
We
were
then
entering
that
era
of
commercial
and
financial
reform
which
had
been
,
if
not
absolutely
occasioned
,
certainly
precipitated
,
by
the
revolt
of
our
colonies
.
Knowledge
of
finance
and
acquaintance
with
tariffs
were
then
rare
gifts
,
and
before
five
years
of
his
private
secretaryship
had
expired
,
Ferrars
was
mentioned
to
Mr.
Pitt
as
the
man
at
the
Treasury
who
could
do
something
that
the
great
minister
required
.
This
decided
his
lot
.
Mr.
Pitt
found
in
Ferrars
the
instrument
he
wanted
,
and
appreciating
all
his
qualities
placed
him
in
a
position
which
afforded
them
full
play
.
The
minister
returned
Ferrars
to
Parliament
,
for
the
Treasury
then
had
boroughs
of
its
own
,
and
the
new
member
was
preferred
to
an
important
and
laborious
post
.
So
long
as
Pitt
and
Grenville
were
in
the
ascendant
,
Mr.
Ferrars
toiled
and
flourished
.
He
was
exactly
the
man
they
liked
;
unwearied
,
vigilant
,
clear
and
cold
;
with
a
dash
of
natural
sarcasm
developed
by
a
sharp
and
varied
experience
.
He
disappeared
from
the
active
world
in
the
latter
years
of
the
Liverpool
reign
,
when
a
newer
generation
and
more
bustling
ideas
successfully
asserted
their
claims
;
but
he
retired
with
the
solace
of
a
sinecure
,
a
pension
,
and
a
privy-councillorship
.
The
Cabinet
he
had
never
entered
,
nor
dared
to
hope
to
enter
.
It
was
the
privilege
of
an
inner
circle
even
in
our
then
contracted
public
life
.
It
was
the
dream
of
Ferrars
to
revenge
in
this
respect
his
fate
in
the
person
of
his
son
,
and
only
child
.
He
was
resolved
that
his
offspring
should
enjoy
all
those
advantages
of
education
and
breeding
and
society
of
which
he
himself
had
been
deprived
.
For
him
was
to
be
reserved
a
full
initiation
in
those
costly
ceremonies
which
,
under
the
names
of
Eton
and
Christ
Church
,
in
his
time
fascinated
and
dazzled
mankind
.
His
son
,
William
Pitt
Ferrars
,
realised
even
more
than
his
father’s
hopes
.
Extremely
good-looking
,
he
was
gifted
with
a
precocity
of
talent
.
He
was
the
marvel
of
Eton
and
the
hope
of
Oxford
.
As
a
boy
,
his
Latin
verses
threw
enraptured
tutors
into
paroxysms
of
praise
,
while
debating
societies
hailed
with
acclamation
clearly
another
heaven-born
minister
.
He
went
up
to
Oxford
about
the
time
that
the
examinations
were
reformed
and
rendered
really
efficient
.
This
only
increased
his
renown
,
for
the
name
of
Ferrars
figured
among
the
earliest
double-firsts
.
Those
were
days
when
a
crack
university
reputation
often
opened
the
doors
of
the
House
of
Commons
to
a
young
aspirant
;
at
least
,
after
a
season
.
But
Ferrars
had
not
to
wait
.
His
father
,
who
watched
his
career
with
the
passionate
interest
with
which
a
Newmarket
man
watches
the
development
of
some
gifted
yearling
,
took
care
that
all
the
odds
should
be
in
his
favour
in
the
race
of
life
.
An
old
colleague
of
the
elder
Mr.
Ferrars
,
a
worthy
peer
with
many
boroughs
,
placed
a
seat
at
the
disposal
of
the
youthful
hero
,
the
moment
he
was
prepared
to
accept
it
,
and
he
might
be
said
to
have
left
the
University
only
to
enter
the
House
of
Commons
.
There
,
if
his
career
had
not
yet
realised
the
dreams
of
his
youthful
admirers
,
it
had
at
least
been
one
of
progress
and
unbroken
prosperity
.
His
first
speech
was
successful
,
though
florid
,
but
it
was
on
foreign
affairs
,
which
permit
rhetoric
,
and
in
those
days
demanded
at
least
one
Virgilian
quotation
.
In
this
latter
branch
of
oratorical
adornment
Ferrars
was
never
deficient
.
No
young
man
of
that
time
,
and
scarcely
any
old
one
,
ventured
to
address
Mr.
Speaker
without
being
equipped
with
a
Latin
passage
.
Ferrars
,
in
this
respect
,
was
triply
armed
.
Indeed
,
when
he
entered
public
life
,
full
of
hope
and
promise
,
though
disciplined
to
a
certain
extent
by
his
mathematical
training
,
he
had
read
very
little
more
than
some
Latin
writers
,
some
Greek
plays
,
and
some
treatises
of
Aristotle
.
These
with
a
due
course
of
Bampton
Lectures
and
some
dipping
into
the
“
Quarterly
Review
,
”
then
in
its
prime
,
qualified
a
man
in
those
days
,
not
only
for
being
a
member
of
Parliament
,
but
becoming
a
candidate
for
the
responsibility
of
statesmanship
.
Ferrars
made
his
way
;
for
two
years
he
was
occasionally
asked
by
the
minister
to
speak
,
and
then
Lord
Castlereagh
,
who
liked
young
men
,
made
him
a
Lord
of
the
Treasury
.
He
was
Under-Secretary
of
State
,
and
“
very
rising
,
”
when
the
death
of
Lord
Liverpool
brought
about
the
severance
of
the
Tory
party
,
and
Mr.
Ferrars
,
mainly
under
the
advice
of
zealots
,
resigned
his
office
when
Mr.
Canning
was
appointed
Minister
,
and
cast
in
his
lot
with
the
great
destiny
of
the
Duke
of
Wellington
.
The
elder
Ferrars
had
the
reputation
of
being
wealthy
.
It
was
supposed
that
he
had
enjoyed
opportunities
of
making
money
,
and
had
availed
himself
of
them
,
but
this
was
not
true
.
Though
a
cynic
,
and
with
little
respect
for
his
fellow-creatures
,
Ferrars
had
a
pride
in
official
purity
,
and
when
the
Government
was
charged
with
venality
and
corruption
,
he
would
observe
,
with
a
dry
chuckle
,
that
he
had
seen
a
great
deal
of
life
,
and
that
for
his
part
he
would
not
much
trust
any
man
out
of
Downing
Street
.
He
had
been
unable
to
resist
the
temptation
of
connecting
his
life
with
that
of
an
individual
of
birth
and
rank
;
and
in
a
weak
moment
,
perhaps
his
only
one
,
he
had
given
his
son
a
stepmother
in
a
still
good-looking
and
very
expensive
Viscountess-Dowager
.
Mr.
Ferrars
was
anxious
that
his
son
should
make
a
great
alliance
,
but
he
was
so
distracted
between
prudential
considerations
and
his
desire
that
in
the
veins
of
his
grand-children
there
should
flow
blood
of
undoubted
nobility
,
that
he
could
never
bring
to
his
purpose
that
clear
and
concentrated
will
which
was
one
of
the
causes
of
his
success
in
life
;
and
,
in
the
midst
of
his
perplexities
,
his
son
unexpectedly
settled
the
question
himself
.
Though
naturally
cold
and
calculating
,
William
Ferrars
,
like
most
of
us
,
had
a
vein
of
romance
in
his
being
,
and
it
asserted
itself
.
There
was
a
Miss
Carey
,
who
suddenly
became
the
beauty
of
the
season
.
She
was
an
orphan
,
and
reputed
to
be
no
inconsiderable
heiress
,
and
was
introduced
to
the
world
by
an
aunt
who
was
a
duchess
,
and
who
meant
that
her
niece
should
be
the
same
.
Everybody
talked
about
them
,
and
they
went
everywhere
—
among
other
places
to
the
House
of
Commons
,
where
Miss
Carey
,
spying
the
senators
from
the
old
ventilator
in
the
ceiling
of
St.
Stephen’s
Chapel
,
dropped
in
her
excitement
her
opera-glass
,
which
fell
at
the
feet
of
Mr.
Under-Secretary
Ferrars
.
He
hastened
to
restore
it
to
its
beautiful
owner
,
whom
he
found
accompanied
by
several
of
his
friends
,
and
he
was
not
only
thanked
,
but
invited
to
remain
with
them
;
and
the
next
day
he
called
,
and
he
called
very
often
afterwards
,
and
many
other
things
happened
,
and
at
the
end
of
July
the
beauty
of
the
season
was
married
not
to
a
Duke
,
but
to
a
rising
man
,
who
Zenobia
,
who
at
first
disapproved
of
the
match
—
for
Zenobia
never
liked
her
male
friends
to
marry
—
was
sure
would
one
day
be
Prime
Minister
of
England
.
Mrs.
Ferrars
was
of
the
same
opinion
as
Zenobia
,
for
she
was
ambitious
,
and
the
dream
was
captivating
.
And
Mrs.
Ferrars
soon
gained
Zenobia’s
good
graces
,
for
she
had
many
charms
,
and
,
though
haughty
to
the
multitude
,
was
a
first-rate
flatterer
.
Zenobia
liked
flattery
,
and
always
said
she
did
.
Mr.
Under-Secretary
Ferrars
took
a
mansion
in
Hill
Street
,
and
furnished
it
with
befitting
splendour
.
His
dinners
were
celebrated
,
and
Mrs.
Ferrars
gave
suppers
after
the
opera
.
The
equipages
of
Mrs.
Ferrars
were
distinguished
,
and
they
had
a
large
retinue
of
servants
.
They
had
only
two
children
,
and
they
were
twins
,
a
brother
and
a
sister
,
who
were
brought
up
like
the
children
of
princes
.
Partly
for
them
,
and
partly
because
a
minister
should
have
a
Tusculum
,
the
Ferrars
soon
engaged
a
magnificent
villa
at
Wimbledon
,
which
had
the
advantage
of
admirable
stables
,
convenient
,
as
Mrs.
Ferrars
was
fond
of
horses
,
and
liked
the
children
too
,
with
their
fancy
ponies
,
to
be
early
accustomed
to
riding
.
All
this
occasioned
expenditure
,
but
old
Mr.
Ferrars
made
his
son
a
liberal
allowance
,
and
young
Mrs.
Ferrars
was
an
heiress
,
or
the
world
thought
so
,
which
is
nearly
the
same
,
and
then
,
too
,
young
Mr.
Ferrars
was
a
rising
man
,
in
office
,
and
who
would
always
be
in
office
for
the
rest
of
his
life
;
at
least
,
Zenobia
said
so
,
because
he
was
on
the
right
side
and
the
Whigs
were
nowhere
,
and
never
would
be
anywhere
,
which
was
quite
right
,
as
they
had
wished
to
make
us
the
slaves
of
Bonaparte
.
When
the
King
,
after
much
hesitation
,
sent
for
Mr.
Canning
,
on
the
resignation
of
Lord
Liverpool
,
the
Zenobian
theory
seemed
a
little
at
fault
,
and
William
Ferrars
absolutely
out
of
office
had
more
than
one
misgiving
;
but
after
some
months
of
doubt
and
anxiety
,
it
seemed
after
all
the
great
lady
was
right
.
The
unexpected
disappearance
of
Mr.
Canning
from
the
scene
,
followed
by
the
transient
and
embarrassed
phantom
of
Lord
Goderich
,
seemed
to
indicate
an
inexorable
destiny
that
England
should
be
ruled
by
the
most
eminent
men
of
the
age
,
and
the
most
illustrious
of
her
citizens
.
William
Ferrars
,
under
the
inspiration
of
Zenobia
,
had
thrown
in
his
fortunes
with
the
Duke
,
and
after
nine
months
of
disquietude
found
his
due
reward
.
In
the
January
that
succeeded
the
August
conversation
in
St.
James’
Street
with
Sidney
Wilton
,
William
Ferrars
was
sworn
of
the
Privy
Council
,
and
held
high
office
,
on
the
verge
of
the
Cabinet
.
Mr.
Ferrars
had
a
dinner
party
in
Hill
Street
on
the
day
he
had
returned
from
Windsor
with
the
seals
of
his
new
office
.
The
catastrophe
of
the
Goderich
Cabinet
,
almost
on
the
eve
of
the
meeting
of
Parliament
,
had
been
so
sudden
,
that
,
not
anticipating
such
a
state
of
affairs
,
Ferrars
,
among
his
other
guests
,
had
invited
Sidney
Wilton
.
He
was
rather
regretting
this
when
,
as
his
carriage
stopped
at
his
own
door
,
he
observed
that
very
gentleman
on
his
threshold
.
Wilton
greeted
him
warmly
,
and
congratulated
him
on
his
promotion
.
“
I
do
so
at
once
,
”
he
added
,
“
because
I
shall
not
have
the
opportunity
this
evening
.
I
was
calling
here
in
the
hope
of
seeing
Mrs.
Ferrars
,
and
asking
her
to
excuse
me
from
being
your
guest
to-day
.
”
“
Well
,
it
is
rather
awkward
,
”
said
Ferrars
,
“
but
I
could
have
no
idea
of
this
when
you
were
so
kind
as
to
say
you
would
come
.
”
“
Oh
,
nothing
of
that
sort
,
”
said
Sidney
.
“
I
am
out
and
you
are
in
,
and
I
hope
you
may
be
in
for
a
long
,
long
time
.
I
dare
say
it
may
be
so
,
and
the
Duke
is
the
man
of
the
age
,
as
you
always
said
he
was
.
I
hope
your
being
in
office
is
not
to
deprive
me
of
your
pleasant
dinners
;
it
would
be
too
bad
to
lose
my
place
both
at
Whitehall
and
in
Hill
Street
.
”
“
I
trust
that
will
never
happen
,
my
dear
fellow
;
but
to-day
I
thought
it
might
be
embarrassing
.
”
“
Not
at
all
;
I
could
endure
without
wincing
even
the
triumphant
glances
of
Zenobia
.
The
fact
is
,
I
have
some
business
of
the
most
pressing
nature
which
has
suddenly
arisen
,
and
which
demands
my
immediate
attention
.
”
Ferrars
expressed
his
regret
,
though
in
fact
he
was
greatly
relieved
,
and
they
parted
.
Zenobia
did
dine
with
the
William
Ferrars
to-day
,
and
her
handsome
husband
came
with
her
,
a
knight
of
the
garter
,
and
just
appointed
to
a
high
office
in
the
household
by
the
new
government
.
Even
the
excitement
of
the
hour
did
not
disturb
his
indigenous
repose
.
It
was
a
dignified
serenity
,
quite
natural
,
and
quite
compatible
with
easy
and
even
cordial
manners
,
and
an
address
always
considerate
even
when
not
sympathetic
.
He
was
not
a
loud
or
a
long
talker
,
but
his
terse
remarks
were
full
of
taste
and
a
just
appreciation
of
things
.
If
they
were
sometimes
trenchant
,
the
blade
was
of
fine
temper
.
Old
Mr.
Ferrars
was
there
and
the
Viscountess
Edgware
.
His
hair
had
become
quite
silvered
,
and
his
cheek
rosy
as
a
December
apple
.
His
hazel
eyes
twinkled
with
satisfaction
as
he
remembered
the
family
had
now
produced
two
privy
councillors
.
Lord
Pomeroy
was
there
,
the
great
lord
who
had
returned
William
Ferrars
to
Parliament
,
a
little
man
,
quite
,
shy
,
rather
insignificant
in
appearance
,
but
who
observed
everybody
and
everything
;
a
conscientious
man
,
who
was
always
doing
good
,
in
silence
and
secrecy
,
and
denounced
as
a
boroughmonger
,
had
never
sold
a
seat
in
his
life
,
and
was
always
looking
out
for
able
men
of
character
to
introduce
them
to
public
affairs
.
It
was
not
a
formal
party
,
but
had
grown
up
in
great
degree
out
of
the
circumstances
of
the
moment
.
There
were
more
men
than
women
,
and
all
men
in
office
or
devoted
supporters
of
the
new
ministry
.
Mrs.
Ferrars
,
without
being
a
regular
beauty
,
had
a
voluptuous
face
and
form
.
Her
complexion
was
brilliant
,
with
large
and
long-lashed
eyes
of
blue
.
Her
mouth
was
certainly
too
large
,
but
the
pouting
richness
of
her
lips
and
the
splendour
of
her
teeth
baffled
criticism
.
She
was
a
woman
who
was
always
gorgeously
or
fantastically
attired
.
“
I
never
can
understand
,
”
would
sometimes
observe
Zenobia’s
husband
to
his
brilliant
spouse
,
“
how
affairs
are
carried
on
in
this
world
.
Now
we
have
,
my
dear
,
fifty
thousand
per
annum
;
and
I
do
not
see
how
Ferrars
can
have
much
more
than
five
;
and
yet
he
lives
much
as
we
do
,
perhaps
better
.
I
know
Gibson
showed
me
a
horse
last
week
that
I
very
much
wanted
,
but
I
would
not
give
him
two
hundred
guineas
for
it
.
I
called
there
to-day
to
look
after
it
again
,
for
it
would
have
suited
me
exactly
,
but
I
was
told
I
was
too
late
,
and
it
was
sold
to
Mrs.
Ferrars
.
”
“
My
dear
,
you
know
I
do
not
understand
money
matters
,
”
Zenobia
said
in
reply
.
“
I
never
could
;
but
you
should
remember
that
old
Ferrars
must
be
very
rich
,
and
that
William
Ferrars
is
the
most
rising
man
of
the
day
,
and
is
sure
to
be
in
the
Cabinet
before
he
is
forty
.
”
Everybody
had
an
appetite
for
dinner
to-day
,
and
the
dinner
was
worthy
of
the
appetites
.
Zenobia’s
husband
declared
to
himself
that
he
never
dined
so
well
,
though
he
gave
his
chef
500
pounds
a
year
,
and
old
Lord
Pomeroy
,
who
had
not
yet
admitted
French
wines
to
his
own
table
,
seemed
quite
abashed
with
the
number
of
his
wine-glasses
and
their
various
colours
,
and
,
as
he
tasted
one
succulent
dish
after
another
,
felt
a
proud
satisfaction
in
having
introduced
to
public
life
so
distinguished
a
man
as
William
Ferrars
.
With
the
dessert
,
not
without
some
ceremony
,
were
introduced
the
two
most
remarkable
guests
of
the
entertainment
,
and
these
were
the
twins
;
children
of
singular
beauty
,
and
dressed
,
if
possible
,
more
fancifully
and
brilliantly
than
their
mamma
.
They
resembled
each
other
,
and
had
the
same
brilliant
complexion
,
rich
chestnut
hair
,
delicately
arched
brows
,
and
dark
blue
eyes
.
Though
only
eight
years
of
age
,
a
most
unchildlike
self-possession
distinguished
them
.
The
expression
of
their
countenances
was
haughty
,
disdainful
,
and
supercilious
.
Their
beautiful
features
seemed
quite
unimpassioned
,
and
they
moved
as
if
they
expected
everything
to
yield
to
them
.
The
girl
,
whose
long
ringlets
were
braided
with
pearls
,
was
ushered
to
a
seat
next
to
her
father
,
and
,
like
her
brother
,
who
was
placed
by
Mrs.
Ferrars
,
was
soon
engaged
in
negligently
tasting
delicacies
,
while
she
seemed
apparently
unconscious
of
any
one
being
present
,
except
when
she
replied
to
those
who
addressed
her
with
a
stare
and
a
haughty
monosyllable
.
The
boy
,
in
a
black
velvet
jacket
with
large
Spanish
buttons
of
silver
filagree
,
a
shirt
of
lace
,
and
a
waistcoat
of
white
satin
,
replied
with
reserve
,
but
some
condescension
,
to
the
good-natured
but
half-humorous
inquiries
of
the
husband
of
Zenobia
.
“
And
when
do
you
go
to
school
?
”
asked
his
lordship
in
a
kind
voice
and
with
a
laughing
eye
.
“
I
shall
go
to
Eton
in
two
years
,
”
replied
the
child
without
the
slightest
emotion
,
and
not
withdrawing
his
attention
from
the
grapes
he
was
tasting
,
or
even
looking
at
his
inquirer
,
“
and
then
I
shall
go
to
Christ
Church
,
and
then
I
shall
go
into
Parliament
.
”
“
Myra
,
”
said
an
intimate
of
the
family
,
a
handsome
private
secretary
of
Mr.
Ferrars
,
to
the
daughter
of
the
house
,
as
he
supplied
her
plate
with
some
choicest
delicacies
,
“
I
hope
you
have
not
forgotten
your
engagement
to
me
which
you
made
at
Wimbledon
two
years
ago
?
”
“
What
engagement
?
”
she
haughtily
inquired
.
“
To
marry
me
.
”
“
I
should
not
think
of
marrying
any
one
who
was
not
in
the
House
of
Lords
,
”
she
replied
,
and
she
shot
at
him
a
glance
of
contempt
.
The
ladies
rose
.
As
they
were
ascending
the
stairs
,
one
of
them
said
to
Mrs.
Ferrars
,
“
Your
son’s
name
is
very
pretty
,
but
it
is
very
uncommon
,
is
it
not
?
”
“
‘Tis
a
family
name
.
The
first
Carey
who
bore
it
was
a
courtier
of
Charles
the
First
,
and
we
have
never
since
been
without
it
.
William
wanted
our
boy
to
be
christened
Pomeroy
but
I
was
always
resolved
,
if
I
ever
had
a
son
,
that
he
should
be
named
ENDYMION
.
”
CHAPTER
IV
About
the
time
that
the
ladies
rose
from
the
dinner-table
in
Hill
Street
,
Mr.
Sidney
Wilton
entered
the
hall
of
the
Clarendon
Hotel
,
and
murmured
an
inquiry
of
the
porter
.
Whereupon
a
bell
was
rung
,
and
soon
a
foreign
servant
appeared
,
and
bowing
,
invited
Mr.
Wilton
to
ascend
the
staircase
and
follow
him
.
Mr.
Wilton
was
ushered
through
an
ante-chamber
into
a
room
of
some
importance
,
lofty
and
decorated
,
and
obviously
adapted
for
distinguished
guests
.
On
a
principal
table
a
desk
was
open
and
many
papers
strewn
about
.
Apparently
some
person
had
only
recently
been
writing
there
.
There
were
in
the
room
several
musical
instruments
;
the
piano
was
open
,
there
was
a
harp
and
a
guitar
.
The
room
was
rather
dimly
lighted
,
but
cheerful
from
the
steady
blaze
of
the
fire
,
before
which
Mr.
Wilton
stood
,
not
long
alone
,
for
an
opposite
door
opened
,
and
a
lady
advanced
leading
with
her
left
hand
a
youth
of
interesting
mien
,
and
about
twelve
years
of
age
.
The
lady
was
fair
and
singularly
thin
.
It
seemed
that
her
delicate
hand
must
really
be
transparent
.
Her
cheek
was
sunk
,
but
the
expression
of
her
large
brown
eyes
was
inexpressibly
pleasing
.
She
wore
her
own
hair
,
once
the
most
celebrated
in
Europe
,
and
still
uncovered
.
Though
the
prodigal
richness
of
the
tresses
had
disappeared
,
the
arrangement
was
still
striking
from
its
grace
.
That
rare
quality
pervaded
the
being
of
this
lady
,
and
it
was
impossible
not
to
be
struck
with
her
carriage
as
she
advanced
to
greet
her
guest
;
free
from
all
affectation
and
yet
full
of
movement
and
gestures
,
which
might
have
been
the
study
of
painters
.
“
Ah
!
”
she
exclaimed
as
she
gave
him
her
hand
,
which
he
pressed
to
his
lips
,
“
you
are
ever
faithful
.
”
Seating
themselves
,
she
continued
,
“
You
have
not
seen
my
boy
since
he
sate
upon
your
knee
.
Florestan
,
salute
Mr.
Wilton
,
your
mother’s
most
cherished
friend
.
”
“
This
is
a
sudden
arrival
,
”
said
Mr.
Wilton
.
“
Well
,
they
would
not
let
us
rest
,
”
said
the
lady
.
“
Our
only
refuge
was
Switzerland
,
but
I
cannot
breathe
among
the
mountains
,
and
so
,
after
a
while
,
we
stole
to
an
obscure
corner
of
the
south
,
and
for
a
time
we
were
tranquil
.
But
soon
the
old
story
:
representations
,
remonstrances
,
warnings
,
and
threats
,
appeals
to
Vienna
,
and
lectures
from
Prince
Metternich
,
not
the
less
impressive
because
they
were
courteous
,
and
even
gallant
.
”
“
And
had
nothing
occurred
to
give
a
colour
to
such
complaints
?
Or
was
it
sheer
persecution
?
”
“
Well
,
you
know
,
”
replied
the
lady
,
“
we
wished
to
remain
quiet
and
obscure
;
but
where
the
lad
is
,
they
will
find
him
out
.
It
often
astonishes
me
.
I
believe
if
we
were
in
the
centre
of
a
forest
in
some
Indian
isle
,
with
no
companions
but
monkeys
and
elephants
,
a
secret
agent
would
appear
—
some
devoted
victim
of
our
family
,
prepared
to
restore
our
fortunes
and
renovate
his
own
.
I
speak
the
truth
to
you
always
.
I
have
never
countenanced
these
people
;
I
have
never
encouraged
them
;
but
it
is
impossible
rudely
to
reject
the
sympathy
of
those
who
,
after
all
,
are
your
fellow-sufferers
,
and
some
of
who
have
given
proof
of
even
disinterested
devotion
.
For
my
own
part
,
I
have
never
faltered
in
my
faith
,
that
Florestan
would
some
day
sit
on
the
throne
of
his
father
,
dark
as
appears
to
be
our
life
;
but
I
have
never
much
believed
that
the
great
result
could
be
occasioned
or
precipitated
by
intrigues
,
but
rather
by
events
more
powerful
than
man
,
and
led
on
by
that
fatality
in
which
his
father
believed
.
”
“
And
now
you
think
of
remaining
here
?
”
said
Mr.
Wilton
.
“
No
,
”
said
the
lady
,
“
that
I
cannot
do
.
I
love
everything
in
this
country
except
its
climate
and
,
perhaps
,
its
hotels
.
I
think
of
trying
the
south
of
Spain
,
and
fancy
,
if
quite
alone
,
I
might
vegetate
there
unnoticed
.
I
cannot
bring
myself
altogether
to
quit
Europe
.
I
am
,
my
dear
Sidney
,
intensely
European
.
But
Spain
is
not
exactly
the
country
I
should
fix
upon
to
form
kings
and
statesmen
.
And
this
is
the
point
on
which
I
wish
to
consult
you
.
I
want
Florestan
to
receive
an
English
education
,
and
I
want
you
to
put
me
in
the
way
of
accomplishing
this
.
It
might
be
convenient
,
under
such
circumstances
,
that
he
should
not
obtrude
his
birth
—
perhaps
,
that
it
should
be
concealed
.
He
has
many
honourable
names
besides
the
one
which
indicates
the
state
to
which
he
was
born
.
But
,
on
all
these
points
,
we
want
your
advice
.
”
And
she
seemed
to
appeal
to
her
son
,
who
bowed
his
head
with
a
slight
smile
,
but
did
not
speak
.
Mr.
Wilton
expressed
his
deep
interest
in
her
wishes
,
and
promised
to
consider
how
they
might
best
be
accomplished
,
and
then
the
conversation
took
a
more
general
tone
.
“
This
change
of
government
in
your
country
,
”
said
the
lady
,
“
so
unexpected
,
so
utterly
unforeseen
,
disturbs
me
;
in
fact
,
it
decided
my
hesitating
movements
.
I
cannot
but
believe
that
the
accession
of
the
Duke
of
Wellington
to
power
must
be
bad
,
at
least
,
for
us
.
It
is
essentially
reactionary
.
They
are
triumphing
at
Vienna
.
”
“
Have
they
cause
?
”
said
Mr.
Wilton
.
“
I
am
an
impartial
witness
,
for
I
have
no
post
in
the
new
administration
;
but
the
leading
colleagues
of
Mr.
Canning
form
part
of
it
,
and
the
conduct
of
foreign
affairs
remains
in
the
same
hands
.
”
“
That
is
consoling
,
”
said
the
lady
.
“
I
wonder
if
Lord
Dudley
would
see
me
.
Perhaps
not
.
Ministers
do
not
love
pretenders
.
I
knew
him
when
I
was
not
a
pretender
,
”
added
the
lady
,
with
the
sweetest
of
smiles
,
“
and
thought
him
agreeable
.
He
was
witty
.
Ah
!
Sidney
,
those
were
happy
days
.
I
look
back
to
the
past
with
regret
,
but
without
remorse
.
One
might
have
done
more
good
,
but
one
did
some
;
”
and
she
sighed
.
“
You
seemed
to
me
,
”
said
Sidney
with
emotion
,
“
to
diffuse
benefit
and
blessings
among
all
around
you
.
”
“
And
I
read
,
”
said
the
lady
,
a
little
indignant
,
“
in
some
memoirs
the
other
day
,
that
our
court
was
a
corrupt
and
dissolute
court
.
It
was
a
court
of
pleasure
,
if
you
like
;
but
of
pleasure
that
animated
and
refined
,
and
put
the
world
in
good
humour
,
which
,
after
all
,
is
good
government
.
The
most
corrupt
and
dissolute
courts
on
the
continent
of
Europe
that
I
have
known
,
”
said
the
lady
,
“
have
been
outwardly
the
dullest
and
most
decorous
.
”
“
My
memory
of
those
days
,
”
said
Mr.
Wilton
,
“
is
of
ceaseless
grace
and
inexhaustible
charm
.
”
“
Well
,
”
said
the
lady
,
“
if
I
sinned
I
have
at
least
suffered
.
And
I
hope
they
were
only
sins
of
omission
.
I
wanted
to
see
everybody
happy
,
and
tried
to
make
them
so
.
But
let
us
talk
no
more
of
ourselves
.
The
unfortunate
are
always
egotistical
.
Tell
me
something
of
Mr.
Wilton
;
and
,
above
all
,
tell
me
why
you
are
not
in
the
new
government
.
”
“
I
have
not
been
invited
,
”
said
Mr.
Wilton
.
“
There
are
more
claimants
than
can
be
satisfied
,
and
my
claims
are
not
very
strong
.
It
is
scarcely
a
disappointment
to
me
.
I
shall
continue
in
public
life
;
but
,
so
far
as
political
responsibility
is
concerned
,
I
would
rather
wait
.
I
have
some
fancies
on
that
head
,
but
I
will
not
trouble
you
with
them
.
My
time
,
therefore
,
is
at
my
command
;
and
so
,
”
he
added
smilingly
,
“
I
can
attend
to
the
education
of
Prince
Florestan
.
”
“
Do
you
hear
that
,
Florestan
?
”
said
the
lady
to
her
son
;
“
I
told
you
we
had
a
friend
.
Thank
Mr.
Wilton
.
”
And
the
young
Prince
bowed
as
before
,
but
with
a
more
serious
expression
.
He
,
however
,
said
nothing
.
“
I
see
you
have
not
forgotten
your
most
delightful
pursuit
,
”
said
Mr.
Wilton
,
and
he
looked
towards
the
musical
instruments
.
“
No
,
”
said
the
lady
;
“
throned
or
discrowned
,
music
has
ever
been
the
charm
or
consolation
of
my
life
.
”
“
Pleasure
should
follow
business
,
”
said
Mr.
Wilton
,
“
and
we
have
transacted
ours
.
Would
it
be
too
bold
if
I
asked
again
to
hear
those
tones
which
have
so
often
enchanted
me
?
”
“
My
voice
has
not
fallen
off
,
”
said
the
lady
,
“
for
you
know
it
was
never
first-rate
.
But
they
were
kind
enough
to
say
it
had
some
expression
,
probably
because
I
generally
sang
my
own
words
to
my
own
music
.
I
will
sing
you
my
farewell
to
Florestan
,
”
she
added
gaily
,
and
took
up
her
guitar
,
and
then
in
tones
of
melancholy
sweetness
,
breaking
at
last
into
a
gushing
burst
of
long-controlled
affection
,
she
expressed
the
agony
and
devotion
of
a
mother’s
heart
.
Mr.
Wilton
was
a
little
agitated
;
her
son
left
the
room
.
The
mother
turned
round
with
a
smiling
face
,
and
said
,
“
The
darling
cannot
bear
to
hear
it
,
but
I
sing
it
on
purpose
,
to
prepare
him
for
the
inevitable
.
”
“
He
is
soft-hearted
,
”
said
Mr.
Wilton
.
“
He
is
the
most
affectionate
of
beings
,
”
replied
the
mother
.
“
Affectionate
and
mysterious
.
I
can
say
no
more
.
I
ought
to
tell
you
his
character
.
I
cannot
.
You
may
say
he
may
have
none
.
I
do
not
know
.
He
has
abilities
,
for
he
acquires
knowledge
with
facility
,
and
knows
a
great
deal
for
a
boy
.
But
he
never
gives
an
opinion
.
He
is
silent
and
solitary
.
Poor
darling
!
he
has
rarely
had
companions
,
and
that
may
be
the
cause
.
He
seems
to
me
always
to
be
thinking
.
”
“
Well
,
a
public
school
will
rouse
him
from
his
reveries
,
”
said
Mr.
Wilton
.
“
As
he
is
away
at
this
moment
,
I
will
say
that
which
I
should
not
care
to
say
before
his
face
,
”
said
the
lady
.
“
You
are
about
to
do
me
a
great
service
,
not
the
first
;
and
before
I
leave
this
,
we
may
—
we
must
—
meet
again
more
than
once
,
but
there
is
no
time
like
the
present
.
The
separation
between
Florestan
and
myself
may
be
final
.
It
is
sad
to
think
of
such
things
,
but
they
must
be
thought
of
,
for
they
are
probable
.
I
still
look
in
a
mirror
,
Sidney
;
I
am
not
so
frightened
by
what
has
occurred
since
we
first
met
,
to
be
afraid
of
that
—
but
I
never
deceive
myself
.
I
do
not
know
what
may
be
the
magical
effect
of
the
raisins
of
Malaga
,
but
if
it
saves
my
life
the
grape
cure
will
indeed
achieve
a
miracle
.
Do
not
look
gloomy
.
Those
who
have
known
real
grief
seldom
seem
sad
.
I
have
been
struggling
with
sorrow
for
ten
years
,
but
I
have
got
through
it
with
music
and
singing
,
and
my
boy
.
See
now
—
he
will
be
a
source
of
expense
,
and
it
will
not
do
for
you
to
be
looking
to
a
woman
for
supplies
.
Women
are
generous
,
but
not
precise
in
money
matters
.
I
have
some
excuse
,
for
the
world
has
treated
me
not
very
well
.
I
never
got
my
pension
regularly
;
now
I
never
get
it
at
all
.
So
much
for
the
treaties
,
but
everybody
laughs
at
them
.
Here
is
the
fortune
of
Florestan
,
and
I
wish
it
all
to
be
spent
on
his
education
,
”
and
she
took
a
case
from
her
bosom
.
“
They
are
not
the
crown
jewels
,
though
.
The
memoirs
I
was
reading
the
other
day
say
I
ran
away
with
them
.
That
is
false
,
like
most
things
said
of
me
.
But
these
are
gems
of
Golconda
,
which
I
wish
you
to
realise
and
expend
for
his
service
.
They
were
the
gift
of
love
,
and
they
were
worn
in
love
.
”
“
It
is
unnecessary
,
”
said
Mr.
Wilton
,
deprecating
the
offer
by
his
attitude
.
“
Hush
!
”
said
the
lady
.
“
I
am
still
a
sovereign
to
you
,
and
I
must
be
obeyed
.
”
Mr.
Wilton
took
the
case
of
jewels
,
pressed
it
to
his
lips
,
and
then
placed
it
in
the
breast
pocket
of
his
coat
.
He
was
about
to
retire
,
when
the
lady
added
,
“
I
must
give
you
this
copy
of
my
song
.
”
“
And
you
will
write
my
name
on
it
?
”
“
Certainly
,
”
replied
the
lady
,
as
she
went
to
the
table
and
wrote
,
“
For
Mr.
Sidney
Wilton
,
from
AGRIPPINA
.
”
CHAPTER
V
In
the
meantime
,
power
and
prosperity
clustered
round
the
roof
and
family
of
Ferrars
.
He
himself
was
in
the
prime
of
manhood
,
with
an
exalted
position
in
the
world
of
politics
,
and
with
a
prospect
of
the
highest
.
The
Government
of
which
he
was
a
member
was
not
only
deemed
strong
,
but
eternal
.
The
favour
of
the
Court
and
the
confidence
of
the
country
were
alike
lavished
upon
it
.
The
government
of
the
Duke
could
only
be
measured
by
his
life
,
and
his
influence
was
irresistible
.
It
was
a
dictatorship
of
patriotism
.
The
country
,
long
accustomed
to
a
strong
and
undisturbed
administration
,
and
frightened
by
the
changes
and
catastrophes
which
had
followed
the
retirement
of
Lord
Liverpool
,
took
refuge
in
the
powerful
will
and
splendid
reputation
of
a
real
hero
.
Mrs.
Ferrars
was
as
ambitious
of
social
distinction
as
her
husband
was
of
political
power
.
She
was
a
woman
of
taste
,
but
of
luxurious
taste
.
She
had
a
passion
for
splendour
,
which
,
though
ever
regulated
by
a
fine
perception
of
the
fitness
of
things
,
was
still
costly
.
Though
her
mien
was
in
general
haughty
,
she
flattered
Zenobia
,
and
consummately
.
Zenobia
,
who
liked
handsome
people
,
even
handsome
women
,
and
persons
who
were
dressed
beautifully
,
was
quite
won
by
Mrs.
Ferrars
,
against
whom
at
first
she
was
inclined
to
be
a
little
prejudiced
.
There
was
an
entire
alliance
between
them
,
and
though
Mrs.
Ferrars
greatly
influenced
and
almost
ruled
Zenobia
,
the
wife
of
the
minister
was
careful
always
to
acknowledge
the
Queen
of
Fashion
as
her
suzerain
.
The
great
world
then
,
compared
with
the
huge
society
of
the
present
period
,
was
limited
in
its
proportions
,
and
composed
of
elements
more
refined
though
far
less
various
.
It
consisted
mainly
of
the
great
landed
aristocracy
,
who
had
quite
absorbed
the
nabobs
of
India
,
and
had
nearly
appropriated
the
huge
West
Indian
fortunes
.
Occasionally
,
an
eminent
banker
or
merchant
invested
a
large
portion
of
his
accumulations
in
land
,
and
in
the
purchase
of
parliamentary
influence
,
and
was
in
time
duly
admitted
into
the
sanctuary
.
But
those
vast
and
successful
invasions
of
society
by
new
classes
which
have
since
occurred
,
though
impending
,
had
not
yet
commenced
.
The
manufacturers
,
the
railway
kings
,
the
colossal
contractors
,
the
discoverers
of
nuggets
,
had
not
yet
found
their
place
in
society
and
the
senate
.
There
were
then
,
perhaps
,
more
great
houses
open
than
at
the
present
day
,
but
there
were
very
few
little
ones
.
The
necessity
of
providing
regular
occasions
for
the
assembling
of
the
miscellaneous
world
of
fashion
led
to
the
institution
of
Almack’s
,
which
died
out
in
the
advent
of
the
new
system
of
society
,
and
in
the
fierce
competition
of
its
inexhaustible
private
entertainments
.
The
season
then
was
brilliant
and
sustained
,
but
it
was
not
flurried
.
People
did
not
go
to
various
parties
on
the
same
night
.
They
remained
where
they
were
assembled
,
and
,
not
being
in
a
hurry
,
were
more
agreeable
than
they
are
at
the
present
day
.
Conversation
was
more
cultivated
;
manners
,
though
unconstrained
,
were
more
stately
;
and
the
world
,
being
limited
,
knew
itself
much
better
.
On
the
other
hand
,
the
sympathies
of
society
were
more
contracted
than
they
are
at
present
.
The
pressure
of
population
had
not
opened
the
heart
of
man
.
The
world
attended
to
its
poor
in
its
country
parishes
,
and
subscribed
and
danced
for
the
Spitalfields
weavers
when
their
normal
distress
had
overflowed
,
but
their
knowledge
of
the
people
did
not
exceed
these
bounds
,
and
the
people
knew
very
little
more
about
themselves
.
They
were
only
half
born
.
The
darkest
hour
precedes
the
dawn
,
and
a
period
of
unusual
stillness
often
,
perhaps
usually
,
heralds
the
social
convulsion
.
At
this
moment
the
general
tranquillity
and
even
content
were
remarkable
.
In
politics
the
Whigs
were
quite
prepared
to
extend
to
the
Duke
the
same
provisional
confidence
that
had
been
accepted
by
Mr.
Caning
,
and
conciliation
began
to
be
an
accepted
phrase
,
which
meant
in
practice
some
share
on
their
part
of
the
good
things
of
the
State
.
The
country
itself
required
nothing
.
There
was
a
general
impression
,
indeed
,
that
they
had
been
advancing
at
a
rather
rapid
rate
,
and
that
it
was
as
well
that
the
reins
should
be
entrusted
to
a
wary
driver
.
Zenobia
,
who
represented
society
,
was
enraptured
that
the
career
of
revolution
had
been
stayed
.
She
still
mourned
over
the
concession
of
the
Manchester
and
Liverpool
Railway
in
a
moment
of
Liberal
infatuation
,
but
flattered
herself
that
any
extension
of
the
railway
system
might
certainly
be
arrested
,
and
on
this
head
the
majority
of
society
,
perhaps
even
of
the
country
,
was
certainly
on
her
side
.
“
I
have
some
good
news
for
you
,
”
said
one
of
her
young
favourites
as
he
attended
her
reception
.
“
We
have
prevented
this
morning
the
lighting
of
Grosvenor
Square
by
gas
by
a
large
majority
.
”
“
I
felt
confident
that
disgrace
would
never
occur
,
”
said
Zenobia
,
triumphant
.
“
And
by
a
large
majority
!
I
wonder
how
Lord
Pomeroy
voted
.
”
“
Against
us
.
”
“
How
can
one
save
this
country
?
”
exclaimed
Zenobia
.
“
I
believe
now
the
story
that
he
has
ordered
Lady
Pomeroy
not
to
go
to
the
Drawing
Room
in
a
sedan
chair
.
”
One
bright
May
morning
in
the
spring
that
followed
the
formation
of
the
government
that
was
to
last
for
ever
,
Mrs.
Ferrars
received
the
world
at
a
fanciful
entertainment
in
the
beautiful
grounds
of
her
Wimbledon
villa
.
The
day
was
genial
,
the
scene
was
flushed
with
roses
and
pink
thorns
,
and
brilliant
groups
,
amid
