prosperouscourse
for
about
a
week
,
when
they
passed
through
the
Straits
of
Gibraltar
,
and
,
not
long
afterwards
,
cast
anchor
in
a
small
and
solitary
bay
.
There
the
prince
and
his
companions
,
and
half-a-dozen
servants
,
well
armed
and
in
military
attire
,
left
the
yacht
,
and
proceeded
on
foot
into
the
country
for
a
short
distance
,
when
they
arrived
at
a
large
farmhouse
.
Here
,
it
was
evident
,
they
were
expected
.
Men
came
forward
with
many
horses
,
and
mounted
,
and
accompanied
the
party
which
had
arrived
.
They
advanced
about
ten
miles
,
and
halted
as
they
were
approaching
a
small
but
fortified
town
.
The
prince
sent
the
Duke
of
St.
Angelo
forward
to
announce
his
arrival
to
the
governor
,
and
to
require
him
to
surrender
.
The
governor
,
however
,
refused
,
and
ordered
the
garrison
to
fire
on
the
invaders
.
This
they
declined
to
do
;
the
governor
,
with
many
ejaculations
,
and
stamping
with
rage
,
broke
his
sword
,
and
the
prince
entered
the
town
.
He
was
warmly
received
,
and
the
troops
,
amounting
to
about
twelve
hundred
men
,
placed
themselves
at
his
disposal
.
The
prince
remained
at
this
town
only
a
couple
of
hours
,
and
at
the
head
of
his
forces
advanced
into
the
country
.
At
a
range
of
hills
he
halted
,
sent
out
reconnoitring
parties
,
and
pitched
his
camp
.
In
the
morning
,
the
Marquis
of
Vallombrosa
,
with
a
large
party
of
gentlemen
well
mounted
,
arrived
,
and
were
warmly
greeted
.
The
prince
learnt
from
them
that
the
news
of
his
invasion
had
reached
the
governor
of
the
province
,
who
was
at
one
of
the
most
considerable
cities
of
the
kingdom
,
with
a
population
exceeding
two
hundred
thousand
,
and
with
a
military
division
for
its
garrison
.
“
They
will
not
wait
for
our
arrival
,
”
said
Vallombrosa
,
“
but
,
trusting
to
their
numbers
,
will
come
out
and
attack
us
.
”
The
news
of
the
scouts
being
that
the
mountain
passes
were
quite
unoccupied
by
the
enemy
,
the
prince
determined
instantly
to
continue
his
advance
,
and
take
up
a
strong
position
on
the
other
side
of
the
range
,
and
await
his
fate
.
The
passage
was
well
effected
,
and
on
the
fourth
day
of
the
invasion
the
advanced
guard
of
the
enemy
were
in
sight
.
The
prince
commanded
that
no
one
should
attend
him
,
but
alone
and
tying
a
white
handkerchief
round
his
sword
,
he
galloped
up
to
the
hostile
lines
,
and
said
in
a
clear
,
loud
voice
,
“
My
men
,
this
is
the
sword
of
my
father
!
”
“
Florestan
for
ever
!
”
was
the
only
and
universal
reply
.
The
cheers
of
the
advanced
guard
reached
and
were
re-echoed
by
the
main
body
.
The
commander-in-chief
,
bareheaded
,
came
up
to
give
in
his
allegiance
and
receive
his
majesty’s
orders
.
They
were
for
immediate
progress
,
and
at
the
head
of
the
army
which
had
been
sent
out
to
destroy
him
,
Florestan
in
due
course
entered
the
enthusiastic
city
which
recognised
him
as
its
sovereign
.
The
city
was
illuminated
,
and
he
went
to
the
opera
in
the
evening
.
The
singing
was
not
confined
to
the
theatre
.
During
the
whole
night
the
city
itself
was
one
song
of
joy
and
triumph
,
and
that
night
no
one
slept
.
After
this
there
was
no
trouble
and
no
delay
.
It
was
a
triumphal
march
.
Every
town
opened
its
gates
,
and
devoted
municipalities
proffered
golden
keys
.
Every
village
sent
forth
its
troop
of
beautiful
maidens
,
scattering
roses
,
and
singing
the
national
anthem
which
had
been
composed
by
Queen
Agrippina
.
On
the
tenth
day
of
the
invasion
King
Florestan
,
utterly
unopposed
,
entered
the
magnificent
capital
of
his
realm
,
and
slept
in
the
purple
bed
which
had
witnessed
his
princely
birth
.
Among
all
the
strange
revolutions
of
this
year
,
this
adventure
of
Florestan
was
not
the
least
interesting
to
the
English
people
.
Although
society
had
not
smiled
on
him
,
he
had
always
been
rather
a
favourite
with
the
bulk
of
the
population
.
His
fine
countenance
,
his
capital
horsemanship
,
his
graceful
bow
that
always
won
a
heart
,
his
youth
,
and
love
of
sport
,
his
English
education
,
and
the
belief
that
he
was
sincere
in
his
regard
for
the
country
where
he
had
been
so
long
a
guest
,
were
elements
of
popularity
that
,
particularly
now
he
was
successful
,
were
unmistakable
.
And
certainly
Lady
Roehampton
,
in
her
solitude
,
did
not
disregard
his
career
or
conduct
.
They
were
naturally
often
in
her
thoughts
,
for
there
was
scarcely
a
day
in
which
his
name
did
not
figure
in
the
newspapers
,
and
always
in
connection
with
matters
of
general
interest
and
concern
.
The
government
he
established
was
liberal
,
but
it
was
discreet
,
and
,
though
conciliatory
,
firm
.
“
If
he
declares
for
the
English
alliance
,
”
said
Waldershare
,
“
he
is
safe
;
”
and
he
did
declare
for
the
English
alliance
,
and
the
English
people
were
very
pleased
by
his
declaration
,
which
in
their
apprehension
meant
national
progress
,
the
amelioration
of
society
,
and
increased
exports
.
The
main
point
,
however
,
which
interested
his
subjects
was
his
marriage
.
That
was
both
a
difficult
and
a
delicate
matter
to
decide
.
The
great
continental
dynasties
looked
with
some
jealousy
and
suspicion
on
him
,
and
the
small
reigning
houses
,
who
were
all
allied
with
the
great
continental
dynasties
,
thought
it
prudent
to
copy
their
example
.
All
these
reigning
families
,
whether
large
or
small
,
were
themselves
in
a
perplexed
and
alarmed
position
at
this
period
,
very
disturbed
about
their
present
,
and
very
doubtful
about
their
future
.
At
last
it
was
understood
that
a
Princess
of
Saxe-Babel
,
though
allied
with
royal
and
imperial
houses
,
might
share
the
diadem
of
a
successful
adventurer
,
and
then
in
time
,
and
when
it
had
been
sufficiently
reiterated
,
paragraphs
appeared
unequivocally
contradicting
the
statement
,
followed
with
agreeable
assurances
that
it
was
unlikely
that
a
Princess
of
Saxe-Babel
,
allied
with
royal
and
imperial
houses
,
should
unite
herself
to
a
parvenu
monarch
,
however
powerful
.
Then
in
turn
these
articles
were
stigmatised
as
libels
,
and
entirely
unauthorised
,
and
no
less
a
personage
than
a
princess
of
the
house
of
Saxe-Genesis
was
talked
of
as
the
future
queen
;
but
on
referring
to
the
“
Almanach
de
Gotha
,
”
it
was
discovered
that
family
had
been
extinct
since
the
first
French
Revolution
.
So
it
seemed
at
last
that
nothing
was
certain
,
except
that
his
subjects
were
very
anxious
that
King
Florestan
should
present
them
with
a
queen
.
CHAPTER
XIX
As
time
flew
on
,
the
friends
of
Lady
Roehampton
thought
and
spoke
,
with
anxiety
about
her
re-entrance
into
society
.
Mr.
Sidney
Wilton
had
lent
Gaydene
to
her
for
the
autumn
,
when
he
always
visited
Scotland
,
and
the
winter
had
passed
away
uninterruptedly
,
at
a
charming
and
almost
unknown
watering-place
,
where
she
seemed
the
only
visitant
,
and
where
she
wandered
about
in
silence
on
the
sands
.
The
time
was
fast
approaching
when
the
inevitable
year
of
seclusion
would
expire
,
and
Lady
Roehampton
gave
no
indication
of
any
change
in
her
life
and
habits
.
At
length
,
after
many
appeals
,
and
expostulations
,
and
entreaties
,
and
little
scenes
,
the
second
year
of
the
widowhood
having
advanced
some
months
,
it
was
decided
that
Lady
Roehampton
should
re-enter
society
,
and
the
occasion
on
which
this
was
to
take
place
was
no
mean
one
.
Lady
Montfort
was
to
give
a
ball
early
in
June
,
and
Royalty
itself
was
to
be
her
guests
.
The
entertainments
at
Montfort
House
were
always
magnificent
,
but
this
was
to
exceed
accustomed
splendour
.
All
the
world
was
to
be
there
,
and
all
the
world
,
who
were
not
invited
,
were
in
as
much
despair
as
if
they
had
lost
their
fortune
or
their
character
.
Lady
Roehampton
had
a
passion
for
light
,
provided
the
light
was
not
supplied
by
gas
or
oil
.
Her
saloons
,
even
when
alone
,
were
always
brilliantly
illuminated
.
She
held
that
the
moral
effect
of
such
a
circumstance
on
her
temperament
was
beneficial
,
and
not
slight
.
It
is
a
rare
,
but
by
no
means
a
singular
,
belief
.
When
she
descended
into
her
drawing-room
on
the
critical
night
,
its
resplendence
was
some
preparation
for
the
scene
which
awaited
her
.
She
stood
for
a
moment
before
the
tall
mirror
which
reflected
her
whole
person
.
What
were
her
thoughts
?
What
was
the
impression
that
the
fair
vision
conveyed
?
Her
countenance
was
grave
,
but
it
was
not
sad
.
Myra
had
now
completed
,
or
was
on
the
point
of
completing
,
her
thirtieth
year
.
She
was
a
woman
of
transcendent
beauty
;
perhaps
she
might
justly
be
described
as
the
most
beautiful
woman
then
alive
.
Time
had
even
improved
her
commanding
mien
,
the
graceful
sweep
of
her
figure
and
the
voluptuous
undulation
of
her
shoulders
;
but
time
also
had
spared
those
charms
which
are
more
incidental
to
early
youth
,
the
splendour
of
her
complexion
,
the
whiteness
of
her
teeth
,
and
the
lustre
of
her
violet
eyes
.
She
had
cut
off
in
her
grief
the
profusion
of
her
dark
chestnut
locks
,
that
once
reached
to
her
feet
,
and
she
wore
her
hair
as
,
what
was
then
and
perhaps
is
now
called
,
a
crop
,
but
it
was
luxuriant
in
natural
quantity
and
rich
in
colour
,
and
most
effectively
set
off
her
arched
brow
,
and
the
oval
of
her
fresh
and
beauteous
cheek
.
The
crop
was
crowned
to-night
by
a
coronet
of
brilliants
.
“
Your
carriage
is
ready
,
my
lady
,
”
said
a
servant
;
“
but
there
is
a
gentleman
below
who
has
brought
a
letter
for
your
ladyship
,
and
which
,
he
says
,
he
must
personally
deliver
to
you
,
madam
.
I
told
him
your
ladyship
was
going
out
and
could
not
see
him
,
but
he
put
his
card
in
this
envelope
,
and
requested
that
I
would
hand
it
to
you
,
madam
.
He
says
he
will
only
deliver
the
letter
to
your
ladyship
,
and
not
detain
you
a
moment
.
”
Lady
Roehampton
opened
the
envelope
,
and
read
the
card
,
“
The
Duke
of
St.
Angelo
.
”
“
The
Duke
of
St.
Angelo
!
”
she
murmured
to
herself
,
and
looked
for
a
moment
abstracted
.
Then
turning
to
the
servant
,
she
said
,
“
He
must
be
shown
up
.
”
“
Madam
,
”
said
the
duke
as
he
entered
,
and
bowed
with
much
ceremony
,
“
I
am
ashamed
of
appearing
to
be
an
intruder
,
but
my
commands
were
to
deliver
this
letter
to
your
ladyship
immediately
on
my
arrival
,
whatever
the
hour
.
I
have
only
this
instant
arrived
.
We
had
a
bad
passage
.
I
know
your
ladyship’s
carriage
is
at
the
door
.
I
will
redeem
my
pledge
and
not
trespass
on
your
time
for
one
instant
.
If
your
ladyship
requires
me
,
I
am
ever
at
your
command
.
”
“
At
Carlton
Gardens
?
”
“
No
;
at
our
embassy
.
”
“
His
Majesty
,
I
hope
,
is
well
?
”
“
In
every
sense
,
my
lady
,
”
and
bowing
to
the
ground
the
duke
withdrew
.
She
broke
the
seal
of
the
letter
while
still
standing
,
and
held
it
to
a
sconce
that
was
on
the
mantel-piece
,
and
then
she
read
:
“
You
were
the
only
person
I
called
upon
when
I
suddenly
left
England
.
I
had
no
hope
of
seeing
you
,
but
it
was
the
homage
of
gratitude
and
adoration
.
Great
events
have
happened
since
we
last
met
.
I
have
realised
my
dreams
,
dreams
which
I
sometimes
fancied
you
,
and
you
alone
,
did
not
depreciate
or
discredit
,
and
,
in
the
sweetness
of
your
charity
,
would
not
have
been
sorry
were
they
accomplished
.
“
I
have
established
what
I
believe
to
be
a
strong
and
just
government
in
a
great
kingdom
.
I
have
not
been
uninfluenced
by
the
lessons
of
wisdom
I
gained
in
your
illustrious
land
.
I
have
done
some
things
which
it
was
a
solace
for
me
to
believe
you
would
not
altogether
disapprove
.
“
My
subjects
are
anxious
that
the
dynasty
I
have
re-established
should
not
be
evanescent
.
Is
it
too
bold
to
hope
that
I
may
find
a
companion
in
you
to
charm
and
to
counsel
me
?
I
can
offer
you
nothing
equal
to
your
transcendent
merit
,
but
I
can
offer
you
the
heart
and
the
throne
of
“
Florestan
.
”
Still
holding
the
letter
in
one
hand
,
she
looked
around
as
if
some
one
might
be
present
.
Her
cheek
was
scarlet
,
and
there
was
for
a
moment
an
expression
of
wildness
in
her
glance
.
Then
she
paced
the
saloon
with
an
agitated
step
,
and
then
she
read
the
letter
again
and
again
,
and
still
she
paced
the
saloon
.
The
whole
history
of
her
life
revolved
before
her
;
every
scene
,
every
character
,
every
thought
,
and
sentiment
,
and
passion
.
The
brightness
of
her
nursery
days
,
and
Hurstley
with
all
its
miseries
,
and
Hainault
with
its
gardens
,
and
the
critical
hour
,
which
had
opened
to
her
a
future
of
such
unexpected
lustre
and
happiness
.
The
clock
had
struck
more
than
once
during
this
long
and
terrible
soliloquy
,
wherein
she
had
to
search
and
penetrate
her
inmost
heart
,
and
now
it
struck
two
.
She
started
,
and
hurriedly
rang
the
bell
.
“
I
shall
not
want
the
carriage
to-night
,
”
she
said
,
and
when
again
alone
,
she
sat
down
and
,
burying
her
face
in
her
alabaster
arms
,
for
a
long
time
remained
motionless
.
CHAPTER
XX
Had
he
been
a
youth
about
to
make
a
debut
in
the
great
world
,
Sidney
Wilton
could
not
have
been
more
agitated
than
he
felt
at
the
prospect
of
the
fete
at
Montfort
House
.
Lady
Roehampton
,
after
nearly
two
years
of
retirement
,
was
about
to
re-enter
society
.
During
this
interval
she
had
not
been
estranged
from
him
.
On
the
contrary
,
he
had
been
her
frequent
and
customary
companion
.
Except
Adriana
,
and
Lady
Montfort
,
and
her
brother
,
it
might
almost
be
said
,
her
only
one
.
Why
then
was
he
agitated
?
He
had
been
living
in
a
dream
for
two
years
,
cherishing
wild
thoughts
of
exquisite
happiness
.
He
would
have
been
content
,
had
the
dream
never
been
disturbed
;
but
this
return
to
hard
and
practical
life
of
her
whose
unconscious
witchery
had
thrown
a
spell
over
his
existence
,
roused
him
to
the
reality
of
his
position
,
and
it
was
one
of
terrible
emotion
.
During
the
life
of
her
husband
,
Sidney
Wilton
had
been
the
silent
adorer
of
Myra
.
With
every
accomplishment
and
every
advantage
that
are
supposed
to
make
life
delightful
—
a
fine
countenance
,
a
noble
mien
,
a
manner
natural
and
attractive
,
an
ancient
lineage
,
and
a
vast
estate
—
he
was
the
favourite
of
society
,
who
did
more
than
justice
to
his
talents
,
which
,
though
not
brilliant
,
were
considerable
,
and
who
could
not
too
much
appreciate
the
high
tone
of
his
mind
;
his
generosity
and
courage
,
and
true
patrician
spirit
which
inspired
all
his
conduct
,
and
guided
him
ever
to
do
that
which
was
liberal
,
and
gracious
,
and
just
.
There
was
only
one
fault
which
society
found
in
Sidney
Wilton
;
he
would
not
marry
.
This
was
provoking
,
because
he
was
the
man
of
all
others
who
ought
to
marry
,
and
make
a
heroine
happy
.
Society
did
not
give
it
up
till
he
was
forty
,
about
the
time
he
became
acquainted
with
Lady
Roehampton
;
and
that
incident
threw
no
light
on
his
purposes
or
motives
,
for
he
was
as
discreet
as
he
was
devoted
,
and
Myra
herself
was
unconscious
of
his
being
anything
to
her
save
the
dearest
friend
of
her
father
,
and
the
most
cherished
companion
of
her
husband
.
When
one
feels
deeply
,
one
is
apt
to
act
suddenly
,
perhaps
rashly
.
There
are
moments
in
life
when
suspense
can
be
borne
no
longer
.
And
Sidney
Wilton
,
who
had
been
a
silent
votary
for
more
than
ten
years
,
now
felt
that
the
slightest
delay
in
his
fate
would
be
intolerable
.
It
was
the
ball
at
Montfort
House
that
should
be
the
scene
of
this
decision
of
destiny
.
She
was
about
to
re-enter
society
,
radiant
as
the
morn
,
amid
flowers
and
music
,
and
all
the
accidents
of
social
splendour
.
His
sympathetic
heart
had
been
some
solace
to
her
in
her
sorrow
and
her
solitude
.
Now
,
in
the
joyous
blaze
of
life
,
he
was
resolved
to
ask
her
whether
it
were
impossible
that
they
should
never
again
separate
,
and
in
the
crowd
,
as
well
as
when
alone
,
feel
their
mutual
devotion
.
Mr.
Wilton
was
among
those
who
went
early
to
Montfort
House
,
which
was
not
his
wont
;
but
he
was
restless
and
disquieted
.
She
could
hardly
have
arrived
;
but
there
would
be
some
there
who
would
speak
of
her
.
That
was
a
great
thing
.
Sidney
Wilton
had
arrived
at
that
state
when
conversation
can
only
interest
on
one
subject
.
When
a
man
is
really
in
love
,
he
is
disposed
to
believe
that
,
like
himself
,
everybody
is
thinking
of
the
person
who
engrosses
his
brain
and
heart
.
The
magnificent
saloons
,
which
in
half
an
hour
would
be
almost
impassable
,
were
only
sprinkled
with
guests
,
who
,
however
,
were
constantly
arriving
.
Mr.
Wilton
looked
about
him
in
vain
for
the
person
who
,
he
was
quite
sure
,
could
not
then
be
present
.
He
lingered
by
the
side
of
Lady
Montfort
,
who
bowed
to
those
who
came
,
but
who
could
spare
few
consecutive
words
,
even
to
Mr.
Wilton
,
for
her
watchful
eye
expected
every
moment
to
be
summoned
to
descend
her
marble
staircase
and
receive
her
royal
guests
.
The
royal
guests
arrived
;
there
was
a
grand
stir
,
and
many
gracious
bows
,
and
some
cordial
,
but
dignified
,
shake-hands
.
The
rooms
were
crowded
;
yet
space
in
the
ball-room
was
well
preserved
,
so
that
the
royal
vision
might
range
with
facility
from
its
golden
chairs
to
the
beauteous
beings
,
and
still
more
beautiful
costumes
,
displaying
with
fervent
loyalty
their
fascinating
charms
.
There
was
a
new
band
to-night
,
that
had
come
from
some
distant
but
celebrated
capital
;
musicians
known
by
fame
to
everybody
,
but
whom
nobody
had
ever
heard
.
They
played
wonderfully
on
instruments
of
new
invention
,
and
divinely
upon
old
ones
.
It
was
impossible
that
anything
could
be
more
gay
and
inspiring
than
their
silver
bugles
,
and
their
carillons
of
tinkling
bells
.
They
found
an
echo
in
the
heart
of
Sidney
Wilton
,
who
,
seated
near
the
entrance
of
the
ball-room
,
watched
every
arrival
with
anxious
expectation
.
But
the
anxiety
vanished
for
a
moment
under
the
influence
of
the
fantastic
and
frolic
strain
.
It
seemed
a
harbinger
of
happiness
and
joy
.
He
fell
into
a
reverie
,
and
wandered
with
a
delightful
companion
in
castles
of
perpetual
sunshine
,
and
green
retreats
,
and
pleasant
terraces
.
But
the
lady
never
came
.
“
Where
can
your
sister
be
?
”
said
Lady
Montfort
to
Endymion
.
“
She
promised
me
to
come
early
;
something
must
have
happened
.
Is
she
ill
?
”
“
Quite
well
;
I
saw
her
before
I
left
Hill
Street
.
She
wished
me
to
come
alone
,
as
she
would
not
be
here
early
.
“
I
hope
she
will
be
in
time
for
the
royal
supper
table
;
I
quite
count
on
her
.
”
“
She
is
sure
to
be
here
.
”
Lord
Hainault
was
in
earnest
conversation
with
Baron
Sergius
,
now
the
minister
of
King
Florestan
at
the
Court
of
St.
James’s
.
It
was
a
wise
appointment
,
for
Sergius
knew
intimately
all
the
English
statesmen
of
eminence
,
and
had
known
them
for
many
years
.
They
did
not
look
upon
him
as
the
mere
representative
of
a
revolutionary
and
parvenu
sovereign
;
he
was
quite
one
of
themselves
,
had
graduated
at
the
Congress
of
Vienna
,
and
,
it
was
believed
,
had
softened
many
subsequent
difficulties
by
his
sagacity
.
He
had
always
been
a
cherished
guest
at
Apsley
House
,
and
it
was
known
the
great
duke
often
consulted
him
.
“
As
long
as
Sergius
sways
his
councils
,
He
will
indulge
in
no
adventures
,
”
said
Europe
.
“
As
long
as
Sergius
remains
here
,
the
English
alliance
is
safe
,
”
said
England
.
After
Europe
and
England
,
the
most
important
confidence
to
obtain
was
that
of
Lord
Hainault
,
and
Baron
Sergius
had
not
been
unsuccessful
in
that
respect
.
“
Your
master
has
only
to
be
liberal
and
steady
,
”
said
Lord
Hainault
,
with
his
accustomed
genial
yet
half-sarcastic
smile
,
“
and
he
may
have
anything
he
likes
.
But
we
do
not
want
any
wars
;
they
are
not
liked
in
the
City
.
”
“
Our
policy
is
peace
,
”
said
Sergius
.
“
I
think
we
ought
to
congratulate
Sir
Peter
,
”
said
Mr.
Waldershare
to
Adriana
,
with
whom
he
had
been
dancing
,
and
whom
he
was
leading
back
to
Lady
Hainault
.
“
Sir
Peter
,
here
is
a
lady
who
wishes
to
congratulate
you
on
your
deserved
elevation
.
”
“
Well
,
I
do
not
know
what
to
say
about
it
,
”
said
the
former
Mr.
Vigo
,
highly
gratified
,
but
a
little
confused
;
“
my
friends
would
have
it
.
”
“
Ay
,
ay
,
”
said
Waldershare
,
“
‘at
the
request
of
friends
;
’
the
excuse
I
gave
for
publishing
my
sonnets
.
”
And
then
,
advancing
,
he
delivered
his
charge
to
her
chaperon
,
who
looked
dreamy
,
abstracted
,
and
uninterested
.
“
We
have
just
been
congratulating
the
new
baronet
,
Sir
Peter
Vigo
,
”
said
Waldershare
.
“
Ah
!
”
said
Lady
Hainault
with
a
contemptuous
sigh
,
“
he
is
,
at
any
rate
,
not
obliged
to
change
his
name
.
The
desire
to
change
one’s
name
does
indeed
appear
to
me
to
be
a
singular
folly
.
If
your
name
had
been
disgraced
,
I
could
understand
it
,
as
I
could
understand
a
man
then
going
about
in
a
mask
.
But
the
odd
thing
is
,
the
persons
who
always
want
to
change
their
names
are
those
whose
names
are
the
most
honoured
.
”
“
Oh
,
you
are
here
!
”
said
Mr.
St.
Barbe
acidly
to
Mr.
Seymour
Hicks
.
“
I
think
you
are
everywhere
.
I
suppose
they
will
make
you
a
baronet
next
.
Have
you
seen
the
batch
?
I
could
not
believe
my
eyes
when
I
read
it
.
I
believe
the
government
is
demented
.
Not
a
single
literary
man
among
them
.
Not
that
I
wanted
their
baronetcy
.
Nothing
would
have
tempted
me
to
accept
one
.
But
there
is
Gushy
;
he
,
I
know
,
would
have
liked
it
.
I
must
say
I
feel
for
Gushy
;
his
works
only
selling
half
what
they
did
,
and
then
thrown
over
in
this
insolent
manner
!
”
“
Gushy
is
not
in
society
,
”
said
Mr.
Seymour
Hicks
in
a
solemn
tone
of
contemptuous
pity
.
“
That
is
society
,
”
said
St.
Barbe
,
as
he
received
a
bow
of
haughty
grace
from
Mrs.
Rodney
,
who
,
fascinating
and
fascinated
,
was
listening
to
the
enamoured
murmurs
of
an
individual
with
a
very
bright
star
and
a
very
red
ribbon
.
“
I
dined
with
the
Rodneys
yesterday
,
”
said
Mr.
Seymour
Hicks
;
“
they
do
the
thing
well
.
”
“
You
dined
there
!
”
exclaimed
St.
Barbe
.
“
It
is
very
odd
,
they
have
never
asked
me
.
Not
that
I
would
have
accepted
their
invitation
.
I
avoid
parvenus
.
They
are
too
fidgety
for
my
taste
.
I
require
repose
,
and
only
dine
with
the
old
nobility
.
”
CHAPTER
XXI
The
Right
Honourable
Job
Thornberry
and
Mrs.
Thornberry
had
received
an
invitation
to
the
Montfort
ball
.
Job
took
up
the
card
,
and
turned
it
over
more
than
once
,
and
looked
at
it
as
if
it
were
some
strange
animal
,
with
an
air
of
pleased
and
yet
cynical
perplexity
;
then
he
shrugged
his
shoulders
and
murmured
to
himself
,
“
No
,
I
don’t
think
that
will
do
.
Besides
,
I
must
be
at
Hurstley
by
that
time
.
”
Going
to
Hurstley
now
was
not
so
formidable
an
affair
as
it
was
in
Endymion’s
boyhood
.
Then
the
journey
occupied
a
whole
and
wearisome
day
.
Little
Hurstley
had
become
a
busy
station
of
the
great
Slap-Bang
railway
,
and
a
despatch
train
landed
you
at
the
bustling
and
flourishing
hostelry
,
our
old
and
humble
friend
,
the
Horse
Shoe
,
within
the
two
hours
.
It
was
a
rate
that
satisfied
even
Thornberry
,
and
almost
reconciled
him
to
the
too
frequent
presence
of
his
wife
and
family
at
Hurstley
,
a
place
to
which
Mrs.
Thornberry
had
,
it
would
seem
,
become
passionately
attached
.
“
There
is
a
charm
about
the
place
,
I
must
say
,
”
said
Job
to
himself
,
as
he
reached
his
picturesque
home
on
a
rich
summer
evening
;
“
and
yet
I
hated
it
as
a
boy
.
To
be
sure
,
I
was
then
discontented
and
unhappy
,
and
now
I
have
every
reason
to
be
much
the
reverse
.
Our
feelings
affect
even
scenery
.
It
certainly
is
a
pretty
place
;
I
really
think
one
of
the
prettiest
places
in
England
.
”
Job
was
cordially
welcomed
.
His
wife
embraced
him
,
and
the
younger
children
clung
to
him
with
an
affection
which
was
not
diminished
by
the
remembrance
that
their
father
never
visited
them
with
empty
hands
.
His
eldest
son
,
a
good-looking
and
well-grown
stripling
,
just
home
for
the
holidays
,
stood
apart
,
determined
to
show
he
was
a
man
of
the
world
,
and
superior
to
the
weakness
of
domestic
sensibility
.
When
the
hubbub
was
a
little
over
,
he
advanced
and
shook
hands
with
his
father
with
a
certain
dignity
.
“
And
when
did
you
arrive
,
my
boy
?
I
was
looking
up
your
train
in
Bradshaw
as
I
came
along
.
I
made
out
you
should
get
the
branch
at
Culvers
Gate
.
”
“
I
drove
over
,
”
replied
the
son
;
“
I
and
a
friend
of
mine
drove
tandem
,
and
I’ll
bet
we
got
here
sooner
than
we
should
have
done
by
the
branch
.
”
“
Hem
!
”
said
Job
Thornberry
.
“
Job
,
”
said
Mrs.
Thornberry
,
“
I
have
made
two
engagements
for
you
this
evening
.
First
,
we
will
go
and
see
your
father
,
and
then
we
are
to
drink
tea
at
the
rectory
.
”
“
Hem
!
”
said
Job
Thornberry
;
“
well
,
I
would
rather
the
first
evening
should
have
been
a
quiet
one
;
but
let
it
be
so
.
”
The
visit
to
the
father
was
kind
,
dutiful
,
and
wearisome
.
There
was
not
a
single
subject
on
which
the
father
and
son
had
thoughts
in
common
.
The
conversation
of
the
father
took
various
forms
of
expressing
his
wonder
that
his
son
had
become
what
he
was
,
and
the
son
could
only
smile
,
and
turn
the
subject
,
by
asking
after
the
produce
of
some
particular
field
that
had
been
prolific
or
obstinate
in
the
old
days
.
Mrs.
Thornberry
looked
absent
,
and
was
thinking
of
the
rectory
;
the
grandson
who
had
accompanied
them
was
silent
and
supercilious
;
and
everybody
felt
relieved
when
Mrs.
Thornberry
,
veiling
her
impatience
by
her
fear
of
keeping
her
father-in-law
up
late
,
made
a
determined
move
and
concluded
the
domestic
ceremony
.
The
rectory
afforded
a
lively
contrast
to
the
late
scene
.
Mr.
and
Mrs.
Penruddock
were
full
of
intelligence
and
animation
.
Their
welcome
of
Mr.
Thornberry
was
exactly
what
it
ought
to
have
been
;
respectful
,
even
somewhat
deferential
,
but
cordial
and
unaffected
.
They
conversed
on
all
subjects
,
public
and
private
,
and
on
both
seemed
equally
well
informed
,
for
they
not
only
read
more
than
one
newspaper
,
but
Mrs.
Penruddock
had
an
extensive
correspondence
,
the
conduct
of
which
was
one
of
the
chief
pleasures
and
excitements
of
her
life
.
Their
tea-equipage
,
too
,
was
a
picture
of
abundance
and
refinement
.
Such
pretty
china
,
and
such
various
and
delicious
cakes
!
White
bread
,
and
brown
bread
,
and
plum
cakes
,
and
seed
cakes
,
and
no
end
of
cracknels
,
and
toasts
,
dry
or
buttered
.
Mrs.
Thornberry
seemed
enchanted
and
gushing
with
affection
,
—
everybody
was
dear
or
dearest
.
Even
the
face
of
John
Hampden
beamed
with
condescending
delight
as
he
devoured
a
pyramid
of
dainties
.
Just
before
the
tea-equipage
was
introduced
Mrs.
Penruddock
rose
from
her
seat
and
whispered
something
to
Mrs.
Thornberry
,
who
seemed
pleased
and
agitated
and
a
little
blushing
,
and
then
their
hostess
addressed
Job
and
said
,
“
I
was
mentioning
to
your
wife
that
the
archbishop
was
here
,
and
that
I
hope
you
would
not
dislike
meeting
him
.
”
And
very
shortly
after
this
,
the
archbishop
,
who
had
been
taking
a
village
walk
,
entered
the
room
.
It
was
evident
that
he
was
intimate
with
the
occupiers
of
Hurstley
Hall
.
He
addressed
Mrs.
Thornberry
with
the
ease
of
habitual
acquaintance
,
while
John
Hampden
seemed
almost
to
rush
into
his
arms
.
Job
himself
had
seen
his
Grace
in
London
,
though
he
had
never
had
the
opportunity
of
speaking
to
him
,
but
yielded
to
his
cordiality
,
when
the
archbishop
,
on
his
being
named
,
said
,
“
It
is
a
pleasure
to
meet
an
old
friend
,
and
in
times
past
a
kind
one
.
”
It
was
a
most
agreeable
evening
.
The
archbishop
talked
to
every
one
,
but
never
seemed
to
engross
the
conversation
.
He
talked
to
the
ladies
of
gardens
,
and
cottages
,
and
a
little
of
books
,
seemed
deeply
interested
in
the
studies
and
progress
of
the
grandson
Thornberry
,
who
evidently
idolised
him
;
and
in
due
course
his
Grace
was
engaged
in
economical
speculations
with
Job
himself
,
who
was
quite
pleased
to
find
a
priest
as
liberal
and
enlightened
as
he
was
able
and
thoroughly
informed
.
An
hour
before
midnight
they
separated
,
though
the
archbishop
attended
them
to
the
hall
.
Mrs.
Thornberry’s
birthday
was
near
at
hand
,
which
Job
always
commemorated
with
a
gift
.
It
had
commenced
with
some
severe
offering
,
like
“
Paradise
Lost
,
”
then
it
fell
into
the
gentler
form
of
Tennyson
,
and
,
of
late
,
unconsciously
under
the
influence
of
his
wife
,
it
had
taken
the
shape
of
a
bracelet
or
a
shawl
.
This
evening
,
as
he
was
rather
feeling
his
way
as
to
what
might
please
her
most
,
Mrs.
Thornberry
embracing
him
,
and
hiding
her
face
on
his
breast
,
murmured
,
“
Do
not
give
me
any
jewel
,
dear
Job
.
What
I
should
like
would
be
that
you
should
restore
the
chapel
here
.
”
“
Restore
the
chapel
here
!
oh
,
oh
!
”
said
Job
Thornberry
.
CHAPTER
XXII
The
archbishop
called
at
Hurstley
House
the
next
day
.
It
was
a
visit
to
Mr.
Thornberry
,
but
all
the
family
were
soon
present
,
and
clustered
round
the
visitor
.
Then
they
walked
together
in
the
gardens
,
which
had
become
radiant
under
the
taste
and
unlimited
expenditure
of
Mrs.
Thornberry
;
beds
glowing
with
colour
or
rivalling
mosaics
,
choice
conifers
with
their
green
or
purple
fruit
,
and
rare
roses
with
their
fanciful
and
beauteous
names
;
one
,
by
the
by
,
named
“
Mrs.
Penruddock
,
”
and
a
very
gorgeous
one
,
“
The
Archbishop
.
”
As
they
swept
along
the
terraces
,
restored
to
their
pristine
comeliness
,
and
down
the
green
avenues
bounded
by
copper
beeches
and
ancient
yews
,
where
men
were
sweeping
away
every
leaf
and
twig
that
had
fallen
in
the
night
and
marred
the
consummate
order
,
it
must
have
been
difficult
for
the
Archbishop
of
Tyre
not
to
recall
the
days
gone
by
,
when
this
brilliant
and
finished
scene
,
then
desolate
and
neglected
,
the
abode
of
beauty
and
genius
,
yet
almost
of
penury
,
had
been
to
him
a
world
of
deep
and
familiar
interest
.
Yes
,
he
was
walking
in
the
same
glade
where
he
had
once
pleaded
his
own
cause
with
an
eloquence
which
none
of
his
most
celebrated
sermons
had
excelled
.
Did
he
think
of
this
?
If
he
did
,
it
was
only
to
wrench
the
thought
from
his
memory
.
Archbishops
who
are
yet
young
,
who
are
resolved
to
be
cardinals
,
and
who
may
be
popes
,
are
superior
to
all
human
weakness
.
“
I
should
like
to
look
at
your
chapel
,
”
said
his
Grace
to
Mr.
Thornberry
;
“
I
remember
it
a
lumber
room
,
and
used
to
mourn
over
its
desecration
.
”
“
I
never
was
in
it
,
”
said
Job
,
“
and
cannot
understand
why
my
wife
is
so
anxious
about
it
as
she
seems
to
be
.
When
we
first
went
to
London
,
she
always
sate
under
the
Reverend
Socinus
Frost
,
and
seemed
very
satisfied
.
I
have
heard
him
;
a
sensible
man
—
but
sermons
are
not
much
in
my
way
,
and
I
do
not
belong
to
his
sect
,
or
indeed
any
other
.
”
However
,
they
went
to
the
chapel
all
the
same
,
for
Mrs.
Thornberry
was
resolved
on
the
visit
.
It
was
a
small
chamber
but
beautifully
proportioned
,
like
the
mansion
itself
—
of
a
blended
Italian
and
Gothic
style
.
The
roof
was
flat
,
but
had
been
richly
gilt
and
painted
,
and
was
sustained
by
corbels
of
angels
,
divinely
carved
.
There
had
been
some
pews
in
the
building
;
some
had
fallen
to
pieces
,
and
some
remained
,
but
these
were
not
in
the
original
design
.
The
sacred
table
had
disappeared
,
but
two
saintly
statues
,
sculptured
in
black
oak
,
seemed
still
to
guard
the
spot
which
it
had
consecrated
.
“
I
wonder
what
became
of
the
communion
table
?
”
said
Job
.
“
Oh
!
my
dear
father
,
do
not
call
it
a
communion
table
,
”
exclaimed
John
Hampden
pettishly
.
“
Why
,
what
should
I
call
it
,
my
boy
?
”
“
The
altar
.
”
“
Why
,
what
does
it
signify
what
we
call
it
?
The
thing
is
the
same
.
”
“
Ah
!
”
exclaimed
the
young
gentleman
,
in
a
tone
of
contemptuous
enthusiasm
,
“
it
is
all
the
difference
in
the
world
.
There
should
be
a
stone
altar
and
a
reredos
.
We
have
put
up
a
reredos
in
our
chapel
at
Bradley
.
All
the
fellows
subscribed
;
I
gave
a
sovereign
.
”
“
Well
,
I
must
say
,
”
said
the
archbishop
,
who
had
been
standing
in
advance
with
Mrs.
Thornberry
and
the
children
,
while
this
brief
and
becoming
conversation
was
taking
place
between
father
and
son
,
“
I
think
you
could
hardly
do
a
better
thing
than
restore
this
chapel
,
Mr.
Thornberry
,
but
there
must
be
no
mistake
about
it
.
It
must
be
restored
to
the
letter
,
and
it
is
a
style
that
is
not
commonly
understood
.
I
have
a
friend
,
however
,
who
is
a
master
of
it
,
the
most
rising
man
in
his
profession
,
as
far
as
church
architecture
is
concerned
,
and
I
will
get
him
just
to
run
down
and
look
at
this
,
and
if
,
as
I
hope
,
you
resolve
to
restore
it
,
rest
assured
he
will
do
you
justice
,
and
you
will
be
proud
of
your
place
of
worship
.
”
“
I
do
not
care
how
much
we
spend
on
our
gardens
,
”
said
Job
,
“
for
they
are
transitory
pleasures
,
and
we
enjoy
what
we
produce
;
but
why
I
should
restore
a
chapel
in
a
house
which
does
not
belong
to
myself
is
not
so
clear
to
me
.
”
“
But
it
should
belong
to
yourself
,
”
rejoined
the
archbishop
.
“
Hurstley
is
not
in
the
market
,
but
it
is
to
be
purchased
.
Take
it
altogether
,
I
have
always
thought
it
one
of
the
most
enviable
possessions
in
the
world
.
The
house
,
when
put
in
order
,
would
be
one
of
the
ornaments
of
the
kingdom
.
The
acreage
,
though
considerable
,
is
not
overwhelming
,
and
there
is
a
range
of
wild
country
of
endless
charm
.
I
wandered
about
it
in
my
childhood
and
my
youth
,
and
I
have
never
known
anything
equal
to
it
.
Then
as
to
the
soil
and
all
that
,
you
know
it
.
You
are
a
son
of
the
soil
.
You
left
it
for
great
objects
,
and
you
have
attained
those
objects
.
They
have
given
you
fame
as
well
as
fortune
.
There
would
be
something
wonderfully
dignified
and
graceful
in
returning
to
the
land
after
you
have
taken
the
principal
part
in
solving
the
difficulties
which
pertained
to
it
,
and
emancipating
it
from
many
perils
.
”
“
I
am
sure
it
would
be
the
happiest
day
of
my
life
,
if
Job
would
purchase
Hurstley
,
”
said
Mrs.
Thornberry
.
“
I
should
like
to
go
to
Oxford
,
and
my
father
purchase
Hurstley
,
”
said
the
young
gentleman
.
“
If
we
have
not
landed
property
,
I
would
sooner
have
none
.
If
we
have
not
land
,
I
should
like
to
go
into
the
Church
,
and
if
I
may
not
go
to
Oxford
,
I
would
go
to
Cuddesdon
at
once
.
I
know
it
can
be
done
,
for
I
know
a
fellow
who
has
done
it
.
”
Poor
Job
Thornberry
!
He
had
ruled
multitudes
,
and
had
conquered
and
commanded
senates
.
His
Sovereign
had
made
him
one
of
her
privy
councillors
,
and
half
a
million
of
people
had
returned
him
their
representative
to
parliament
.
And
here
he
stood
silent
,
and
a
little
confused
;
sapped
by
his
wife
,
bullied
by
his
son
,
and
after
having
passed
a
great
part
of
his
life
in
denouncing
sacerdotalism
,
finding
his
whole
future
career
chalked
out
,
without
himself
being
consulted
,
by
a
priest
who
was
so
polite
,
sensible
,
and
so
truly
friendly
,
that
his
manner
seemed
to
deprive
its
victims
of
every
faculty
of
retort
or
repartee
.
Still
he
was
going
to
say
something
when
the
door
opened
,
and
Mrs.
Penruddock
appeared
,
exclaiming
in
a
cheerful
voice
,
“
I
thought
I
should
find
you
here
.
I
would
not
have
troubled
your
Grace
,
but
this
letter
marked
‘private
,
immediate
,
and
to
be
forwarded
,
’
has
been
wandering
about
for
some
time
,
and
I
thought
it
was
better
to
bring
it
to
you
at
once
.
”
The
Archbishop
of
Tyre
took
the
letter
,
and
seemed
to
start
as
he
read
the
direction
.
Then
he
stood
aside
,
opened
it
,
and
read
its
contents
.
The
letter
was
from
Lady
Roehampton
,
desiring
to
see
him
as
soon
as
possible
on
a
matter
of
the
utmost
gravity
,
and
entreating
him
not
to
delay
his
departure
,
wherever
he
might
be
.
“
I
am
sorry
to
quit
you
all
,
”
said
his
Grace
;
“
but
I
must
go
up
to
town
immediately
.
The
business
is
urgent
.
”
CHAPTER
XXIII
Endymion
arrived
at
home
very
late
from
the
Montfort
ball
,
and
rose
in
consequence
at
an
unusually
late
hour
.
He
had
taken
means
to
become
sufficiently
acquainted
with
the
cause
of
his
sister’s
absence
the
night
before
,
so
he
had
no
anxiety
on
that
head
.
Lady
Roehampton
had
really
intended
to
have
been
present
,
was
indeed
dressed
for
the
occasion
;
but
when
the
moment
of
trial
arrived
,
she
was
absolutely
unequal
to
the
effort
.
All
this
was
amplified
in
a
little
note
from
his
sister
,
which
his
valet
brought
him
in
the
morning
.
What
,
however
,
considerably
surprised
him
in
this
communication
was
her
announcement
that
her
feelings
last
night
had
proved
to
her
that
she
ought
not
to
remain
in
London
,
and
that
she
intended
to
find
solitude
and
repose
in
the
little
watering-place
where
she
had
passed
a
tranquil
autumn
during
the
first
year
of
her
widowhood
.
What
completed
his
astonishment
,
however
,
was
the
closing
intimation
that
,
in
all
probability
,
she
would
have
left
town
before
he
rose
.
The
moment
she
had
got
a
little
settled
she
would
write
to
him
,
and
when
business
permitted
,
he
must
come
and
pay
her
a
little
visit
.
“
She
was
always
capricious
,
”
exclaimed
Lady
Montfort
,
who
had
not
forgotten
the
disturbance
of
her
royal
supper-table
.
“
Hardly
that
,
I
think
,
”
said
Endymion
.
“
I
have
always
looked
on
Myra
as
a
singularly
consistent
character
.
”
“
I
know
,
you
never
admit
your
sister
has
a
fault
.
”
“
You
said
the
other
day
yourself
that
she
was
the
only
perfect
character
you
knew
.
”
“
Did
I
say
that
?
I
think
her
capricious
.
”
“
I
do
not
think
you
are
capricious
,
”
said
Endymion
,
“
and
yet
the
world
sometimes
says
you
are
.
”
“
I
change
my
opinion
of
persons
when
my
taste
is
offended
,
”
said
Lady
Montfort
.
“
What
I
admired
in
your
sister
,
though
I
confess
I
sometimes
wished
not
to
admire
her
,
was
that
she
never
offended
my
taste
.
”
“
I
hope
satisfied
it
,
”
said
Endymion
.
“
Yes
,
satisfied
it
,
always
satisfied
it
.
I
wonder
what
will
be
her
lot
,
for
,
considering
her
youth
,
her
destiny
has
hardly
begun
.
Somehow
or
other
,
I
do
not
think
she
will
marry
Sidney
Wilton
.
”
“
I
have
sometimes
thought
that
would
be
,
”
said
Endymion
.
“
Well
,
it
would
be
,
I
think
,
a
happy
match
.
All
the
circumstances
would
be
collected
that
form
what
is
supposed
to
be
happiness
.
But
tastes
differ
about
destinies
as
well
as
about
manners
.
For
my
part
,
I
think
to
have
a
husband
who
loved
you
,
and
he
clever
,
accomplished
,
charming
,
ambitious
,
would
be
happiness
;
but
I
doubt
whether
your
sister
cares
so
much
about
these
things
.
She
may
,
of
course
does
,
talk
to
you
more
freely
;
but
with
others
,
in
her
most
open
hours
,
there
seems
a
secret
fund
of
reserve
in
her
character
which
I
never
could
penetrate
,
except
,
I
think
,
it
is
a
reserve
which
does
not
originate
in
a
love
of
tranquillity
,
but
quite
the
reverse
.
She
is
a
strong
character
.
”
“
Then
,
hardly
a
capricious
one
.
”
“
No
,
not
capricious
;
I
only
said
that
to
tease
you
.
I
am
capricious
;
I
know
it
.
I
disregard
people
sometimes
that
I
have
patronised
and
flattered
.
It
is
not
merely
that
I
have
changed
my
opinion
of
them
,
but
I
positively
hate
them
.
”
“
I
hope
you
will
never
hate
me
,
”
said
Endymion
.
“
You
have
never
offended
my
taste
yet
,
”
said
Lady
Montfort
with
a
smile
.
Endymion
was
engaged
to
dine
to-day
with
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine
.
Although
now
in
hostile
political
camps
,
that
great
leader
of
men
never
permitted
their
acquaintance
to
cease
.
“
He
is
young
,
”
reasoned
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine
;
“
every
political
party
changes
its
principles
on
an
average
once
in
ten
years
.
Those
who
are
young
must
often
then
form
new
connections
,
and
Ferrars
will
then
come
to
me
.
He
will
be
ripe
and
experienced
,
and
I
could
give
him
a
good
deal
.
I
do
not
want
numbers
.
I
want
men
.
In
opposition
,
numbers
often
only
embarrass
.
The
power
of
the
future
is
ministerial
capacity
.
The
leader
with
a
cabinet
formed
will
be
the
minister
of
England
.
He
is
not
to
trouble
himself
about
numbers
;
that
is
an
affair
of
the
constituencies
.
”
Male
dinners
are
in
general
not
amusing
.
When
they
are
formed
,
as
they
usually
are
,
of
men
who
are
supposed
to
possess
a
strong
and
common
sympathy
—
political
,
sporting
,
literary
,
military
,
social
—
there
is
necessarily
a
monotony
of
thought
and
feeling
,
and
of
the
materials
which
induce
thought
and
feeling
.
In
a
male
dinner
of
party
politicians
,
conversation
soon
degenerates
into
what
is
termed
“
shop
;
”
anecdotes
about
divisions
,
criticism
of
speeches
,
conjectures
about
office
,
speculations
on
impending
elections
,
and
above
all
,
that
heinous
subject
on
which
enormous
fibs
are
ever
told
,
the
registration
.
There
are
,
however
,
occasional
glimpses
in
their
talk
which
would
seem
to
intimate
that
they
have
another
life
outside
the
Houses
of
Parliament
.
But
that
extenuating
circumstance
does
not
apply
to
the
sporting
dinner
.
There
they
begin
with
odds
and
handicaps
,
and
end
with
handicaps
and
odds
,
and
it
is
doubtful
whether
it
ever
occurs
to
any
one
present
,
that
there
is
any
other
existing
combination
of
atoms
than
odds
and
handicaps
.
A
dinner
of
wits
is
proverbially
a
place
of
silence
;
and
the
envy
and
hatred
which
all
literary
men
really
feel
for
each
other
,
especially
when
they
are
exchanging
dedications
of
mutual
affection
,
always
ensure
,
in
such
assemblies
,
the
agreeable
presence
of
a
general
feeling
of
painful
constraint
.
If
a
good
thing
occurs
to
a
guest
,
he
will
not
express
it
,
lest
his
neighbour
,
who
is
publishing
a
novel
in
numbers
,
shall
appropriate
it
next
month
,
or
he
himself
,
who
has
the
same
responsibility
of
production
,
be
deprived
of
its
legitimate
appearance
.
Those
who
desire
to
learn
something
of
the
manoeuvres
at
the
Russian
and
Prussian
reviews
,
or
the
last
rumour
at
Aldershot
or
the
military
clubs
,
will
know
where
to
find
this
feast
of
reason
.
The
flow
of
soul
in
these
male
festivals
is
perhaps
,
on
the
whole
,
more
genial
when
found
in
a
society
of
young
gentlemen
,
graduates
of
the
Turf
and
the
Marlborough
,
and
guided
in
their
benignant
studies
by
the
gentle
experience
and
the
mild
wisdom
of
White’s
.
The
startling
scandal
,
the
rattling
anecdote
,
the
astounding
leaps
,
and
the
amazing
shots
,
afford
for
the
moment
a
somewhat
pleasing
distraction
,
but
when
it
is
discovered
that
all
these
habitual
flim-flams
are
,
in
general
,
the
airy
creatures
of
inaccuracy
and
exaggeration
—
that
the
scandal
is
not
true
,
the
anecdote
has
no
foundation
,
and
that
the
feats
and
skill
and
strength
are
invested
with
the
organic
weakness
of
tradition
,
the
vagaries
lose
something
of
the
charm
of
novelty
,
and
are
almost
as
insipid
as
claret
from
which
the
bouquet
has
evaporated
.
The
male
dinners
of
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine
were
an
exception
to
the
general
reputation
of
such
meetings
.
They
were
never
dull
.
In
the
first
place
,
though
to
be
known
at
least
by
reputation
was
an
indispensable
condition
of
being
present
,
he
brought
different
classes
together
,
and
this
,
at
least
for
once
,
stimulates
and
gratifies
curiosity
.
His
house
too
was
open
to
foreigners
of
celebrity
,
without
reference
to
their
political
parties
or
opinions
.
Every
one
was
welcome
except
absolute
assassins
.
The
host
too
had
studied
the
art
of
developing
character
and
conversation
,
and
if
sometimes
he
was
not
so
successful
in
this
respect
as
he
deserved
,
there
was
no
lack
of
amusing
entertainment
,
for
in
these
social
encounters
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine
was
a
reserve
in
himself
,
and
if
nobody
else
would
talk
,
he
would
avail
himself
of
the
opportunity
of
pouring
forth
the
treasures
of
his
own
teeming
intelligence
.
His
various
knowledge
,
his
power
of
speech
,
his
eccentric
paradoxes
,
his
pompous
rhetoric
,
relieved
by
some
happy
sarcasm
,
and
the
obvious
sense
,
in
all
he
said
and
did
,
of
innate
superiority
to
all
his
guests
,
made
these
exhibitions
extremely
amusing
.
“
What
Bertie
Tremaine
will
end
in
,
”
Endymion
would
sometimes
say
,
“
perplexes
me
.
Had
there
been
no
revolution
in
1832
,
and
he
had
entered
parliament
for
his
family
borough
,
I
think
he
must
by
this
time
have
been
a
minister
.
Such
tenacity
of
purpose
could
scarcely
fail
.
But
he
has
had
to
say
and
do
so
many
odd
things
,
first
to
get
into
parliament
,
and
secondly
to
keep
there
,
that
his
future
now
is
not
so
clear
.
When
I
first
knew
him
,
he
was
a
Benthamite
;
at
present
,
I
sometimes
seem
to
foresee
that
he
will
end
by
being
the
leader
of
the
Protectionists
and
the
Protestants
.
”
“
And
a
good
strong
party
too
,
”
said
Trenchard
,
“
but
query
whether
strong
enough
?
”
“
That
is
exactly
what
Bertie
Tremaine
is
trying
to
find
out
.
”
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine’s
manner
in
receiving
his
guests
was
courtly
and
ceremonious
;
a
contrast
to
the
free
and
easy
style
of
the
time
.
But
it
was
adopted
after
due
reflection
.
“
No
man
can
tell
you
what
will
be
the
position
he
may
be
called
upon
to
fill
.
But
he
has
a
right
to
assume
he
will
always
be
ascending
.
I
,
for
example
,
may
be
destined
to
be
the
president
of
a
republic
,
the
regent
of
a
monarchy
,
or
a
sovereign
myself
.
It
would
be
painful
and
disagreeable
to
have
to
change
one’s
manner
at
a
perhaps
advanced
period
of
life
,
and
become
liable
to
the
unpopular
imputation
that
you
had
grown
arrogant
and
overbearing
.
On
the
contrary
,
in
my
case
,
whatever
my
elevation
,
there
will
be
no
change
.
My
brother
,
Mr.
Tremaine
Bertie
,
acts
on
a
different
principle
.
He
is
a
Sybarite
,
and
has
a
general
contempt
for
mankind
,
certainly
for
the
mob
and
the
middle
class
,
but
he
is
‘Hail
fellow
,
well
met
!
’
with
them
all
.
He
says
it
answers
at
elections
;
I
doubt
it
.
I
myself
represent
a
popular
constituency
,
but
I
believe
I
owe
my
success
in
no
slight
measure
to
the
manner
in
which
I
gave
my
hand
when
I
permitted
it
to
be
touched
.
As
I
say
sometimes
to
Mr.
Tremaine
Bertie
,
‘You
will
find
this
habit
of
social
familiarity
embarrassing
when
I
send
you
to
St.
Petersburg
or
Vienna.’
”
Waldershare
dined
there
,
now
a
peer
,
though
,
as
he
rejoiced
to
say
,
not
a
peer
of
parliament
.
An
Irish
peer
,
with
an
English
constituency
,
filled
,
according
to
Waldershare
,
the
most
enviable
of
positions
.
His
rank
gave
him
social
influence
,
and
his
seat
in
the
House
of
Commons
that
power
which
all
aspire
to
obtain
.
The
cynosure
of
the
banquet
,
however
,
was
a
gentleman
who
had
,
about
a
year
before
,
been
the
president
of
a
republic
for
nearly
six
weeks
,
and
who
being
master
of
a
species
of
rhapsodical
rhetoric
,
highly
useful
in
troubled
times
,
when
there
is
no
real
business
to
transact
,
and
where
there
is
nobody
to
transact
it
,
had
disappeared
when
the
treasury
was
quite
empty
,
and
there
were
no
further
funds
to
reward
the
enthusiastic
citizens
who
had
hitherto
patriotically
maintained
order
at
wages
about
double
in
amount
to
what
they
had
previously
received
in
their
handicrafts
.
This
great
reputation
had
been
brought
over
by
Mr.
Tremaine
Bertie
,
now
introducing
him
into
English
political
society
.
Mr.
Tremaine
Bertie
hung
upon
the
accents
of
the
oracle
,
every
word
of
which
was
intended
to
be
picturesque
or
profound
,
and
then
surveyed
his
friends
with
a
glance
of
appreciating
wonder
.
Sensible
Englishmen
,
like
Endymion
and
Trenchard
,
looked
upon
the
whole
exhibition
as
fustian
,
and
received
the
revelations
with
a
smile
of
frigid
courtesy
.
The
presence
,
however
,
of
this
celebrity
of
six
weeks
gave
occasionally
a
tone
of
foreign
politics
to
the
conversation
,
and
the
association
of
ideas
,
which
,
in
due
course
,
rules
all
talk
,
brought
them
,
among
other
incidents
and
instances
,
to
the
remarkable
career
of
King
Florestan
.
“
And
yet
he
has
his
mortifications
,
”
said
a
sensible
man
.
“
He
wants
a
wife
,
and
the
princesses
of
the
world
will
not
furnish
him
with
one
.
”
“
What
authority
have
you
for
saying
so
?
”
exclaimed
the
fiery
Waldershare
.
“
The
princesses
of
the
world
would
be
great
fools
if
they
refused
such
a
man
,
but
I
know
of
no
authentic
instance
of
such
denial
.
”
“
Well
,
it
is
the
common
rumour
.
”
“
And
,
therefore
,
probably
a
common
falsehood
.
”
“
Were
he
wise
,
”
said
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine
,
“
King
Florestan
would
not
marry
.
Dynasties
are
unpopular
;
especially
new
ones
.
The
present
age
is
monarchical
,
but
not
dynastic
.
The
king
,
who
is
a
man
of
reach
,
and
who
has
been
pondering
such
circumstances
all
his
life
,
is
probably
well
aware
of
this
,
and
will
not
be
such
a
fool
as
to
marry
.
”
“
How
is
the
monarchy
to
go
on
,
if
there
is
to
be
no
successor
?
”
inquired
Trenchard
.
“
You
would
not
renew
the
Polish
constitution
?
”
“
The
Polish
constitution
,
by
the
by
,
was
not
so
bad
a
thing
,
”
said
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine
.
“
Under
it
a
distinguished
Englishman
might
have
mixed
with
the
crowned
heads
of
Europe
,
as
Sir
Philip
Sidney
nearly
did
.
But
I
was
looking
to
something
superior
to
the
Polish
constitution
,
or
perhaps
any
other
;
I
was
contemplating
a
monarchy
with
the
principle
of
adoption
.
That
would
give
you
all
the
excellence
of
the
Polish
constitution
,
and
the
order
and
constancy
in
which
it
failed
.
It
would
realise
the
want
of
the
age
;
monarchical
,
not
dynastical
,
institutions
,
and
it
would
act
independent
of
the
passions
and
intrigues
of
the
multitude
.
The
principle
of
adoption
was
the
secret
of
the
strength
and
endurance
of
Rome
.
It
gave
Rome
alike
the
Scipios
and
the
Antonines
.
”
“
A
court
would
be
rather
dull
without
a
woman
at
its
head
.
”
“
On
the
contrary
,
”
said
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine
.
“
It
was
Louis
Quatorze
who
made
the
court
;
not
his
queen
.
”
“
Well
,
”
said
Waldershare
,
“
all
the
same
,
I
fear
King
Florestan
will
adopt
no
one
in
this
room
,
though
he
has
several
friends
here
,
and
I
am
one
;
and
I
believe
that
he
will
marry
,
and
I
cannot
help
fancying
that
the
partner
of
this
throne
will
not
be
as
insignificant
as
Louis
the
Fourteenth’s
wife
,
or
Catherine
of
Braganza
.
”
Jawett
dined
this
day
with
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine
.
He
was
a
frequent
guest
there
,
and
still
was
the
editor
of
the
“
Precursor
,
”
though
it
sometimes
baffled
all
that
lucidity
of
style
for
which
he
was
celebrated
to
reconcile
the
conduct
of
the
party
,
of
which
the
“
Precursor
”
was
alike
the
oracle
and
organ
,
with
the
opinions
with
which
that
now
well-established
journal
first
attempted
to
direct
and
illuminate
the
public
mind
.
It
seemed
to
the
editor
that
the
“
Precursor
”
dwelt
more
on
the
past
than
became
a
harbinger
of
the
future
.
Not
that
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine
ever
for
a
moment
admitted
that
there
was
any
difficulty
in
any
case
.
He
never
permitted
any
dogmas
that
he
had
ever
enunciated
to
be
surrendered
,
however
contrary
at
their
first
aspect
.
“
All
are
but
parts
of
one
stupendous
whole
,
”
and
few
things
were
more
interesting
than
the
conference
in
which
Mr.
Bertie
Tremaine
had
to
impart
his
views
and
instructions
to
the
master
of
that
lucid
