Therewasagooddealsaidaboutitatthetime。Therewasarumour，——nodoubtafalserumour，——thattheCrowninsistedinthisinstanceondictatingachoicetotheDukeofOmnium。Butevenwereitso，theDukecouldnothavebeenverymuchaggrieved，asthechoicedictatedwassupposedtobethathimself。ThelateDukehadbeenaKnight，andwhenhehaddied，itwasthoughtthathissuccessorwouldsucceedtotheribbon。
ThenewDukehadbeenatthetimeintheCabinet，andhadremainedthere，buthadacceptedanofficeinferiorinranktothatwhichhehadformerlyfilled。Thewholehistoryofthesethingshasbeenwritten，andmaybereadbythecurious。TheDuchess，newlyaduchessthenandverykeeninreferencetoherhusband’srank，hadinstigatedhimtodemandtheribbonashisright。Thishehadnotonlydeclinedtodo，buthadgoneoutofthewaytosaythathethoughtitshouldbebestowedelsewhere。
Ithadbeenbestowedelsewhere，andtherehadbeenaverygeneralfeelingthathehadbeenpassedoverbecausehiseasytemperamentinsuchmattershadbeenseenandutilized。Now，whethertheCrowninterferedornot，——amatteronwhichnooneshortofawriterofnewspaperarticlesdarestomakesuggestiontilltimeshallhavemademellowthedoingsofsovereignsandtheirministers，——thesuggestionwasmade。TheDukeofStBungayventuredtosaytohisfriendthatnootherselectionwaspossible。
’RecommendherMajestytogiveittomyself？’saidthePrimeMinister。
’YouwillfindittobeherMajesty’swish。Ithasbeenverycommon。SirRobertWalpolehadit。’
’IamnotSirRobertWalpole。’TheDukenamedotherexamplesofPrimeMinisterswhohadbeengarteredbythemselves。ButourPrimeMinisterdeclaredittobeoutofthequestion。Nohonourofthatdescriptionshouldbeconferreduponhimaslongasheheldhispresentposition。TheoldDukewasmuchinearnest，andtherewasagreatdealsaidonthesubject，——butatlastitbecameclear，notonlytohim，buttothemembersoftheCabinetgenerally，andthentotheoutsideworld，thatthePrimeMinisterwouldnotconsenttoacceptthevacanthonour。
Fornearlyamonthafterthisthequestionsubsided。AMinisterisnotboundtobestowaGarterthedayafteritbecomesvacant。
ThereareotherKnightstoguardthethrone，andonemaybesparedforashortinterval。ButduringtheintervalmanyeyeswereturnedtowardsthestallinStGeorge’sChapel。Agoodthingshouldbegivenawaylikeaclapofthunderifenvy，hatred，andmalicearetobeavoided。Abroadblueribbonacrossthechestisofalldecorationsthemostbecoming，or，atanyrate，themostdesired。Andtherewas，Ifear，animpressiononthemindsofsomementhattheDukeinsuchmatterswasweakandmightbepersuaded。ThentherecametohimanapplicationintheformofaletterfromthenewMarquisofMountFidgett，——amanwhomhehadneverseen，andofwhomhehadneverheard。ThenewMarquishadhithertoresidedinItaly，andmenonlyknewofhimthathewasodioustohisuncle。ButhehadinheritedalltheFichyFidgettestates，andwasnowpossessedofimmensewealthandgreathonour。Heventured，hesaid，torepresenttothePrimeMinisterthatforgenerationspasttheMarquisesofMountFidgetthadbeenhonouredbytheGarter。Hispoliticalstatusinthecountrywasexactlythatenjoyedbyhislateuncle，butheintendedthathispoliticalcareershouldbeverydifferent。HewasquitepreparedtosupporttheCoalition。’WhatishethatheshouldexpecttobemadeaKnightoftheGarter？’saidourDuketotheoldDuke。
’HeistheMarquisofMountFidgett，andnexttoyourself，perhaps，therichestpeerinGreatBritain。’
’Haverichesanythingtodowithit？’
’Somethingcertainly。Youwouldnotwanttonameapauperpeer。’
’Yes——ifhewasamanwhosecareerhadbeenhighlyhonourabletothecountry。Suchaman，ofcourse，couldnotbeapauper，butIdonotthinkhiswantofwealthshouldstandinthewayofhisbeinghonouredbytheGarter。’
’Wealthandrankandterritorialinfluencehavebeengenerallythoughttohavesomethingtodowithit。’
’Andcharacternothing！’
’MydearDuke，Ihavenotsaidso。’
’Somethingverymuchlikeit，myfriend，ifyouadvocatetheclaimoftheMarquisofMountFidgett。DidyouapproveoftheselectionofthelateMarquis？’
’IwasintheCabinetatthetime，andwillthereforesaynothingagainstit。ButIhaveneverheardanythingagainstthisman’scharacter。’
’Norinfavourofit。Tomythinkinghehasasmuchclaim，andnomore，asthatmanwhojustopenedthedoor。HewasneverseenintheLowerHouse。’
’Surelythatcannotsignify。’
’Youthink，then，thatheshouldhaveit？’
’YouknowwhatIthink，’saidtheelderstatesmanthoughtfully。
’InmyopinionthereisnodoubtthatyouwouldatleastconsultthehonourofthecountrybyallowingherMajestytobestowthisactofgraceuponasubjectwhohasdeservedsowellfromherMajestyasyourself。’
’Itisquiteimpossible。’
’Itseemstome，’saidtheDuke，notappearingtonoticetherefusalofhisfriend，’thatinthispeculiarpositionyoushouldallowyourselftobepersuadedtolayasideyourownfeeling。Nomanofhighcharacterisdesirousofsecuringtohimselfdecorationswhichhemaybestowuponothers。’
’Justso。’
’Butherethedecorationbestoweduponthechiefwhomweallfollow，wouldconferawiderhonouruponmanythanitcoulddoifgiventoanyoneelse。’
’ThesamemaybesaidofanyPrimeMinister。’
’Notso。Acommoner，withouthighpermanentrankorlargefortune，isnotloweredintheworld’sesteembynotbeingoftheOrder。Youwillpermitmetosay——thataDukeofOmniumhasnotreachedthepositionwhichheoughttoenjoyunlessheisaKnightoftheGarter。’ItmustbeborneinmindthattheoldDuke，whousedthisargument，hadhimselfworntheribbonforthelastthirtyyears。’Butif——’
’Well——well。’
’Butifyouare，——Imustcallitobstinate。’
’Iamobstinateinthatrespect。’
’Then，’saidtheDukeofStBungay，’IshouldrecommendherMajestytogiveittotheMarquis。’
’Never，’saidthePrimeMinister，withveryunaccustomedenergy。
’Iwillneversanctionthepaymentofsuchapriceforserviceswhichshouldneverbeboughtorsold。’
’Itwouldgivenooffence。’
’Thatisnotenough，myfriend。HereisamanofwhomIonlyknowthathehasboughtagreatmanymarblestatues。Hehasdonenothingforhiscountry，andnothingforhissovereign。’
’Ifyouaredeterminedtolookatwhatyoucalldesertalone，I
wouldnameLordDrummond。’ThePrimeMinisterfrownedandlookedunhappy。ItwasquitetruethatLordDrummondhadcontradictedhim，andthathehadfelttheinjurygrievously。’LordDrummondhasbeenverytruetous。’
’Yes——truetous！Whatisthat？’
’Heisineveryrespectamanofcharacter，andwelllookeduponinthecountry。Therewouldbesomeenmityandagooddealofenvy——whichmightbeavoidedbyeitheroftheothercoursesI
haveproposed。butthosecoursesyouwillnottake。ItakeitforgrantedthatyouareanxioustosecurethesupportofthosewhogenerallyactwithLordDrummond。’
’Idon’tknowthatIam。’TheoldDukeshruggedhisshoulders。
’WhatImeanis，thatIdonotthinkthatweoughttopayanincreasedpricefortheirsupport。HislordshipisverywellastheHeadofanOffice。butheisnotnearlysogreatamanasmyfriendLordCantrip。’
’Cantripwouldnotjoinus。Thereisnoevilinpoliticssogreatasthatofseemingtobuythemenwhowillnotcomewithoutbuying。Theserewardsarefairlygivenforpoliticalsupport。’
’Ihadnot，intruth，thoughtofLordCantrip。’
’Hedoesnotexpectitanymorethanmybutler。’
’IonlynamedhimashavingaclaimstrongerthananythatLordDrummondcanputforward。IhaveamaninmymindtowhomI
thinksuchanhonourisfairlydue。WhatdoyousaytoLordEarlybird？’TheoldDukeopenedhismouthandlifteduphishandsinunaffectedsurprise。
TheEarlofEarlybirdwasanoldmanofaverypeculiarcharacter。HehadneveropenedhismouthintheHouseofLords，andhadneversatintheHouseofCommons。Thepoliticalworldknewhimnotatall。Hehadahouseintown，butveryrarelylivedthere。EarlyPark，intheparishofBBird，hadbeenhisresidencesincehefirstcametothetitlefortyyearsago，andhadbeenthesceneofallhislabours。Hewasanoblemanpossessedofamoderatefortune，and，asmensaidofhim，ofamoderateintellect。Hehadmarriedearlyinlifeandwasblessedwithalargefamily。Buthehadcertainlynotbeenanidleman。
Fornearlyhalfacenturyhehaddevotedhimselftotheimprovementofthelabouringclasses，especiallyinreferencetotheirabodesandeducation，andgraduallywithoutanydesireonhisownpart，workedhimselfupintopublicnotice。Hewasnotaneloquentman，buthewouldtakethechairatmeetingaftermeeting，andsitwithadmirablepatienceforlonghourstoheartheeloquenceofothers。Hewasamanverysimpleinhistastes，andhadbroughtuphisfamilytofollowhishabits。Hehadthereforebeenabletodomunificentthingswithmoderatemeans，andinthelongcourseofyearshadfailedinhidinghismunificencefromthepublic。LordEarlybird，tillaftermiddlelife，hadnotbeenmuchconsidered，butgraduallytherehadgrownupafeelingthattherewerenotverymanybettermeninthecountry。Hewasafat，bald-headedoldman，whowasalwayspullinghisspectaclesonandoff，nearlyblind，veryawkward，andaltogetherindifferenttoappearance。ProbablyhehadnomoreideaoftheGarterinhisownmindthanhehadofaCardinal’shat。Buthehadgrownintofame，andhadnotescapedthenoticeofthePrimeMinister。
’DoyouknowanythingagainstLordEarlybird？’askedthePrimeMinister。
’Certainlynothingagainsthim，Duke。’
’Notanythinginhisfavour？’
’Iknowhimverywell，——IthinkImaysayintimately。Thereisn’tabettermanbreathing。’
’Ahonourtothepeerage？’saidthePrimeMinister。
’Anhonourtohumanityrather，’saidtheother，’asbeingofallmentheleastselfishandmostphilanthropical。’
’Whatmorecanbesaidforaman？’
’ButaccordingtomyviewheisnotthesortofpersonwhomonewouldwishtoseemadeaKnightoftheGarter。Ifhehadtheribbonhewouldneverwearit。’
’Thehonoursurelydoesnotconsistinitsoutwardsign。Iamentitledtowearsomekindofcoronet，butIdonotwalkaboutwithitonmyhead。Heisamanofgreatheartandofmanyvirtues。Surelythecountry，andherMajestyonbehalfofthecountry，shoulddelighttohonoursuchaman。’
’Ireallydoubtwhetheryoulookatthematterintherightlight，’saidtheancientstatesman，whowasintruthfrightenedatwhatwasbeingproposed。’YoumustnotbeangrywithmeifI
speakplainly。’
’Myfriend，Idonotthinkthatitiswithinyourpowertomakemeangry。’
’Wellthen，——Iwillgetforamomenttolistentomyviewonthematter。TherearecertaingreatprizesinthegiftoftheCrownandoftheMinistersoftheCrown，——thegreatestofwhicharenowtraditionallyatthedisposalofthePrimeMinister。Thesearealwaysgiventopartyfriends。Imayperhapsagreewithyouthatpartysupportshouldnotbelookedtoalone。Letusacknowledgethatcharacterandservicesshouldbetakenintoaccount。ButtheverytheoryofourGovernmentwillbeoversetbyareversaloftherulewhichIhaveattemptedtodescribe。
Youwilloffendallyourownfriends，andonlyincurtheridiculeofyouropponents。Itisnodoubtdesirablethatthehighseatsofthecountryshouldbefilledbymenofbothparties。IwouldnotwishtoseeeveryLordLieutenantofacountyaWhig。’InhisenthusiasmtheoldDukewentbacktohisoldphraseology。
’ButIknowthatmyopponentswhentheirturncomeswillappointtheirfriendstotheLieutenanciesandthatthebalancewillbemaintained。IfyouorIappointtheirfriends，theywon’tappointours。LordEarlybird’sproxyhasbeeninthehandsoftheConservativeLeaderoftheHouseofLordseversincehesucceededhisfather。’Thentheoldmanpaused，buthisfriendwaitedtolistenwhetherthelecturewerefinishedbeforehespoke，andtheDukeofStBungaycontinued。’And，moreover，thoughtLordEarlybirdisaverygoodman，——somuchsothatmanyofusmaywellenvyhim，——heisnotjustthemanfittedforthisdestination。AKnightoftheGartershouldbeamanpronetoshowhimself，apublicman，onewhoseworkinthecountryhasbroughthimfacetofacewithhisfellows。Thereisanaptness，apropriety，afitnessinthesethingswhichonecanunderstandperhapsbetterthanexplain。’
’Thosefitnessesandaptnesseschange，Ithink，fromdaytoday。
Therewasatimewhenaknightshouldbeafightingman。’
’Thathasgoneby。’
’AndtheaptnessandfitnessinaccordancewithwhichthesovereignofthedaywasinducedtogracewiththeGartersuchamanasthelateMarquisofMountFidgetthave，Ihope，goneby。
Youwilladmitthat？’
’Thereisnosuchmanproposed。’
’Andotherfitnessesandaptnesseswillgoby，tillthetimewillcomewhenthemantobeselectedasLieutenantofacountywillbethemanwhoseselectionwillbemostbeneficialtothecounty，andKnightsoftheGarterwillbechosenfortheirrealvirtues。’
’IthinkyouareQuixotic。APrimeMinisterisofallmenboundtofollowthetraditionsofhiscountry，or，whenheleavesthem，toleavethemwithverygradualsteps。’
’Andifhebreakthatlawandthrowoverallthatthraldom——
whatthen？’
’Hewilllosetheconfidencewhichhasmadehimwhatheis。’
’ItiswellthatIknowthepenalty。Itishardlyheavyenoughtoenforcestrictobedience。Asforthematterindispute，ithadbetterstandoverforafewdays。’WhenthePrimeMinistersaidthistheoldDukeknewverywellthatheintendedtohavehisownway。
Andsoitwas。Aweekpassedby，andthentheyoungerDukewrotetotheelderDukesayingthathehadgiventothematteralltheconsiderationinhispower，andthathehadatlastresolvedtorecommendherMajestytobestowtheribbononLordEarlybird。Hewouldnot，however，takeanystepforafewdayssothathisfriendmighthaveanopportunityofmakingfurtherremonstranceifhepleased。Nofurtherremonstrancewasmade，andLordEarlybird，muchtohisownamazement，wasnominatedtothevacantGarter。
TheappointmentwasonecertainlynotpopularwithanyofthePrimeMinister’sfriends。Withsome，suchasLordDrummond，itindicatedadeterminationonthepartoftheDuketodeclarehisfreedomfromallthosebondswhichhadhithertobeenbindingontheHeadsofGovernment。HadtheDukeselectedhimself，certainlynooffencewouldhavebeengiven。HadtheMarquisofMountFidgettbeenthehappyman，excuseswouldhavebeenmade。
ButitwasunpardonabletoLordDrummondthatheshouldhavebeenpassedoverandthattheGartershouldhavebeengiventoLordEarlybird。TothepooroldDuketheoffencewasofadifferentnature。HehadintendedtouseaverystrongwordwhenhetoldhisfriendthathisproposedconductwouldbeQuixotic。TheDukeofOmniumwouldsurelyknowthattheDukeofStBungaycouldnotsupportaQuixoticPrimeMinister。AndyettheyoungerDuke，theTelemachusofthelasttwoyears，——afterhearingthatword，——
hadrebelledagainsthisMentor，andhadobstinatelyadheredtohisQuixotism！Thegreedofpowerhadfallenupontheman，——sosaidthedearoldDuketohimself，——andtheman’sfallwascertain。Alas，alas。hadhebeenallowedtogobeforethepoisonhadenteredhisveins，howmuchlesswouldhavebeenhissuffering！
CHAPTER65
THEREMUSTBETIME。
AttheendofthethirdweekinJuly，whentheSessionwasstillsitting，andwhennodayhadbeenabsolutelyasyetfixedfortheescapeofmembers，MrWhartonreceivedaletterfromhisfriendArthurFletcherwhichcertainlysurprisedhimverymuch，andwhichlefthimforadayortwounabletodecidewhatansweroughttobegiven。ItwillberememberedthatFerdinandLopezdestroyedhimselfinMarch，nowthreemonthssince。Theacthadbeenmorethananinedays’wonder，havingbeenkeptinthememoryofmanymenbythesedulouseffortsofQuintusSlide，andbythefactthatthenameofsogreatamanasthePrimeMinisterwasconcernedinthematter。ButgraduallythefeelingaboutFerdinandLopezhaddiedaway，andhisfate，thoughithadoutlivedthenominalninedays，hadsunkintogeneraloblivionbeforetheendoftheninthweek。ThePrimeMinisterhadnotforgottentheman，norhadQuintusSlide。ThenamewasstillcommoninthecolumnsofthePeople’sBanner，andwasevermentionedwithoutbeingreadbytheunfortunateDuke。ButothershadceasedtotalkaboutFerdinandLopez。
Tothemind，however，ofArthurFletcherthefactoftheman’sdeathwasalwayspresent。Adreadfulincubushadcomeuponhislife，blightingallhisprospects，obscuringallhissunbyagreatcloud，coveringupallhishopes，andchangingforhimallhisoutlookintotheworld。ItwasnotonlythatEmilyWhartonshouldnothavebecomehiswife，butthatthewomanwhomhelovedwithsoperfectalove，shouldhavebeensacrificedtosovileacreatureasthisman。Heneverblamedher，——butlookeduponhisfateasFate。Thenonasuddenheheardthattheincubuswasremoved。Themanwhohadmadehimandherwretchedhadbyasuddenstrokebeentakenawayandannihilated。Therewasnothingbetweenhimandher，——butamemory。Hecouldcertainlyforgive，ifshecouldforget。
Ofcoursehehadfeltatthefirstmomentthattimemustpassby。
Hehadbecomecertainthathermadloveforthemanhadperished。
Hehadbeenmadesurethatshehadrepentedherowndeedinsackclothandashes。Ithadbeenacknowledgedtohimbyherfatherthatshehadbeenanxioustobeseparatedfromherhusbandifherhusbandwouldconsenttosuchaseparation。Andthen，rememberingashedidhislastinterviewwithher，havinginhismindashehadeverycircumstanceofthatcaresswhichhehadgivenher，——downtotheveryquiverofthefingershehadpressed，——hecouldnotbutflatterhimselfthatatlasthehadtouchedherheart。Buttheremustbetime！Theconventionsoftheworldoperateonallhearts，especiallyonthefemaleheart，andteachthatnewvows，tooquicklygiven，aredisgraceful。Theworldhasseemedtodecidethatawidowshouldtaketwoyearsbeforeshecanbestowherselfonasecondmanwithoutatouchofscandal。Butthetwoyearsistoincludeeverything，thecourtshipofthesecondaswellastheburialofthefirst，——andnotonlythecourtship，butthepreparationofthedressesandtheweddingitself。Andthenthiscasewasdifferentfromalltheothers。Ofcoursetheremustbetime，butsurelynothereafullperiodoftwoyears！Whyshouldthelifeoftwoyoungpersonsbesowasted，ifitwerethecasethattheylovedeachother！Therewashorrorhere，remorse，pity，perhapspardon。buttherewasnolove，——noneofthatlovewhichisalwaysforalittletimeincreasedinitsfervourbythelossofthelovedobject。noneofthatpassionatedevotionwhichmustatfirstmaketheveryideaofanotherman’sloveintolerable。Therehadbeenagreatescape，——anescapewhichcouldnotbutbeinwardlyacknowledged，howeverlittlepronethetonguemightbetoconfessit。Ofcoursetheremustbetime，——buthowmuchtime？Heargueditinhisminddaily，andateachdailyargumentthetimeconsideredbyhimtobeappropriatewasshortened。Threemonthshadpassedandhehadnotyetseenher。Hehadresolvedthathewouldnotevenattempttoseehertillherfatherwouldconsent。
Butsurelyaperiodhadpassedsufficienttojustifyhiminapplyingforthatpermission。AndthenhebethoughthimselfthatitwouldbebestinapplyingforthatpermissiontotelleverythingtoMrWharton。Hewellknewthathewouldbetellingnosecret。MrWhartonknewthestateofhisfeelingsaswellasheknewithimself。Ifevertherewasacaseinwhichtimemightbeabridged，thiswasone。andthereforehewrotehisletter，——
asfollows：
3，——CourtTemple，24thJuly，187-
MYDEARMRWHARTON，Itisamatterofgreatregrettomethatweshouldseesolittleofeachother，——especiallyofregretthatI
shouldneverseeEmily。
Imayaswellrushintothematteratonce。Ofcoursethisletterwillnotbeshowntoher，andthereforeImaywriteasIwouldspeakifIwerewithyou。Thewretchedmanwhomshemarriedisgone，andmyloveforheristhesameasitwasbeforeshehadeverseenhim，andasithasalwaysbeenfromthatdaytothis。Icouldnotaddressyouoreventhinkofherasyet，didInotknowthatthatmarriagehadbeenunfortunate。Butithasnotalteredhertomeintheheart。Ithasbeenadreadfultroubletousall——toher，toyou，tome，andtoallconnectedwithus。Butitisover，andIthinkthatitshouldbelookedbackuponasablackchasmwhichwehavebridgedandgotover，andtowhichwenevercastbackoureyes。
Ihavenorighttothinkthat，thoughshemightsomedayloveanotherman，shewouldtherefore，loveme，butI
thinkthatIhavearighttotry，andIknowthatI
shouldhaveyourgood-will。Itisaquestionoftime，butifIlettimegoby，someoneelsemayslipin。Whocantell？Iwouldnotbethoughttopressindecently，butIdofeelthatheretheordinaryruleswhichgovernmenandwomenarenottobefollowed。Hemadeherunhappyalmostfromthefirstday。Shehadmadeamistakewhichyouandsheandallacknowledged。Shehasbeenpunished，andsohaveI，——veryseverelyIcanassureyou。Wouldn’titbeagoodthingtobringallthistoanendassoonaspossible，——ifitcanbebroughttoanendinthewayIwant？
Praytellmewhatyouthink。Iwouldproposethatyoushouldaskhertoseeme，andthensayjustasmuchasyouplease。OfcourseIshouldnotpressheratfirst。
Youmightaskmetodinner，andallthatkindofthing，andsoshewouldgetusedtome。Itisnotasthoughwehadnotbeenvery，veryoldfriends。ButIknowyouwilldothebest。IhaveputoffwritingtoyoutillI
sometimesthinkthatIshallgomadoveritifIsitstillanylonger。
Youraffectionatefriend，ARTHURFLETCHER。
WhenMrWhartongotthisletterhewasverymuchpuzzled。Couldhehavehadhiswish，hetoowouldhaveleftthechasmbehindhimasproposedbyhisyoungfriend，andhavenevercastaneyebackuponthefrightfulabyss。HewouldwillinglyhaveallowedthewholeLopezincidenttobepassedoverasanepisodeintheirlives，which，ifitcouldnotbeforgotten，shouldatanyrateneverbementioned。Theyhadallbeenseverelypunished，asFletcherhadsaid，andifthemattercouldendtherehewouldbewellcontenttobearonhisownshouldersallthatremainedofthepunishment，andtoleteverythingbeginagain。Butheknewverywellitcouldnotbesowithher。EvenyetitwasimpossibletoinduceEmilytothinkofherhusbandwithoutregret。Ithadbeenonlytoomanifestduringthelastyearoftheirmarriedlifethatshehadfelthorrorratherthanlovetowardshim。Whentherehadbeenaquestionofhisleavingherbehind，shouldhegotoCentralAmerica，shehadalwaysexpressedherselfmorethanwillingtocomplywithsuchanarrangement。
Shewouldgowithhimshouldheorderhertodoso，butwouldinfinitelysoonerremaininEngland。Andthentoo，shehadspokenofhimwhilealivewithdisdainanddisgust，andhadsubmittedtohearherfatherdescribehimasinfamous。Herlifehadbeenonelongmisery，underwhichshehadseemedgraduallytobeperishing。Nowshewasrelieved，andherhealthwasre-
established。Acertainamountofunjoyouscheerfulnesswasreturningtoher。Itwasimpossibletodoubtthatshemusthaveknownthatagreatburdenhadfallenfromherback。Andyetshewouldneverallowhisnametobementionedwithoutgivingsomeoutwardsignofaffectionforhismemory。Ifhewasbad，sowereothersbad。Thereweremanyworsethanhe。Suchweretheexcusesshemadeforherlatehusband。OldMrWharton，whoreallythoughtthatinallhisexperiencehehadneverknownanyoneworsethanhisson-in-law，wouldsometimesbecometesty，andatlastresolvedthathewouldaltogetherholdhistongue。
Buthecouldhardlyholdhistonguenow。
He，nodoubt，hadalreadyformedhishopesinregardtoArthurFletcher。Hehadtrustedthatthemanwhomhehadtaughthimselfsomeyearssincetoregardashiswished-forson-in-law，mightbeconstantandstrongenoughinhislovetoforgetallthatwaspast，andtobestillwillingtoredeemhisdaughterfrommisery。
ButasdayshadcreptonsincethesceneastheTenwayJunction，hehadbecomeawarethattimemustdomuchbeforesuchreliefwouldbeaccepted。Itwas，however，stillpossiblethatthepresenceofthemanmightdosomething。Hitherto，sincethedeedhadbeendone，nostrangerhaddinedinManchesterSquare。Sheherselfhadseennovisitor。Shehadhardlyleftthehouseexcepttogotochurch，andthenhadbeenenvelopedinthedeepestcrape。Onceortwiceshehadallowedherselftobedrivenoutinacarriage，and，whenshehaddoneso，herfatherhadalwaysaccompaniedher。Nowidow，sincetheseclusionofwidowswasfirstordained，hasbeenmorestrictinmaintainingtherestraintsofwidowhood，asenjoined。Howthencouldhebidherreceiveanewlover，——orhowsuggesttoherthataloverwaspossible？AndyethedidnotliketoanswerArthurFletcherwithoutnamingsomeperiodforthepresentmourning，——sometimeatwhichhemightatleastshowhimselfinManchesterSquare。
’IhavehadaletterfromArthurFletcher，’hesaidtohisdaughteradayortwoafterhehadreceivedit。Hewassittingafterdinner，andEverettwasalsointheroom。
’IsheinHertfordshire？’sheasked。
’No——heisupintown，attendingtotheHouseofCommons，I
suppose。Hehadsomethingtosaytome，andaswearenotinthewayofmeetinghewrote。Hewantstocomeandseeyou。’
’Notyet，papa。’
’Hetalkedofcominganddininghere。’
’Ohyes，praylethimcome。’
’Youwouldnotmindthat？’
’Iwoulddineearlyandbeoutoftheway。Ishouldbedogladifyouwouldhavesomebodysometimes。Ishouldn’tthinkthenthatIwassucha——sucharestraintonyou。’
ButthiswasnotwhatMrWhartondesired。’Ishouldn’tlikethat，mydear。Ofcoursehewouldknowthatyouwereinthehouse。’
’Uponmyword，Ithinkyoumightmeetanoldfriendlikethat，’
saidEverett。
Shelookedatherbrother，andthenatherfather，andburstintotears。’Ofcourseyoushallnotbepressedifitwouldbeirksometoyou，’saidherfather。
’Itisthefirstplungethathurts，’saidEverett。’Ifyoucouldoncebringyourselftodoit，youwouldfindafterwardsthatyouweremorecomfortable。’
’Papa，’shesaidslowly。’Iknowwhatitmeans。HisgoodnessI
shallalwaysremember。YoumaytellhimIsayso。ButIcannotmeethimyet。’Thentheypressedhernofurther。Ofcourseshehadunderstood。HerfathercouldnotevenaskhertosayawordwhichmightgivecomforttoArthurastosomelongdistanttime。
HewentdowntotheHouseofCommonsthenextday，andsawhisyoungfriendthere。ThentheywalkedupanddownWestminsterHallfornearlyanhour，talkingoverthematterwiththemostabsolutefreedom。’Itcannotbeforthebenefitofanyone，’saidArthurFletcher，’thatsheshouldimmolateherselflikeanIndianwidow，——andforthesakeofsuchamanasthat！OfcourseI
havenorighttodictatetoyou，——hardly，perhaps，togiveanopinion。’
’Yes，yes，yes。’
’Itdoesseemtome，then，thatyououghttoforceheroutofthatkindofthing。WhyshouldshenotgodowntoHertfordshire？’
’Intime，Arthur，——intime。’
’Butpeople’slivesarerunningaway。’
’Mydearfellow，ifyouweretoseeheryouwouldknowhowvainitwouldbetotrytohurryher。Theremustbetime。’
CHAPTER66
THEENDOFTHESESSION。
TheDukeofStBungayhadbeenverymuchdisappointed。HehadcontradictedwitharepetitionofnoestheassertionoftheDuchessthathehadbeentheWarwickwhohadplacedthePrimeMinister’scrownontheheadoftheDukeofOmnium，butnodoubthefeltinhisheartthathehaddonesomuchtowardsitthathisadvicerespectingthevacantGarter，whengivensomuchweight，shouldhavebeenfollowed。Hewasanoldman，andhadknownthesecretsofCabinetCouncilswhenhisyoungerfriendwasalittleboy。HehadgivenadvicetoLordJohn，andhadbeenoneofthefirsttocongratulateSirRobertPeelwhenthatstatesmanbecameafree-trader。HehadsatinconclavewithTHEDuke，andhadlistenedtotheboldLiberalismofoldEarlGrey，bothintheLowerandtheUpperHouse。Hehadbeenalwaysgreatincouncil，nevergivinghisadviceunasked，northrowinghispearlsbeforeswine，andcautiousatalltimestoavoidexcessesonthissideorthat。Hehadneverallowedhimselfahobbyhorseofhisowntoride，hadneverbeenambitious，hadneversoughttobetheostensibleleaderofmen。Buthedidnowthinkthatwhen，withallhisexperience，hespokeverymuchinearnest，someattentionshouldbepaidtowhathesaid。WhenhehaddescribedacertainlineofconductasQuixotichehadbeenverymuchinearnest。Hedidnotusuallyindulgeinstronglanguage，andQuixotic，whenappliedtotheconductofthePrimeMinister，was，tohisideas，verystrong。ThethingdescribedasQuixotichadnowbeendone，andtheDukeofStBungaywasadisappointedman。
ForanhourortwohethoughtthathemustgentlysecedefromallprivatecounselswiththePrimeMinister。Toresign，ortoputimpedimentsinthewayofhisownchief，didnotbelongtohischaracter。Thatlineofstrategyhadcomeintofashionsincehehadlearnthispoliticalrudiments，andwasveryodioustohim。
Butinallpartycompactstheremustbeinnerparties，peculiarbonds，andconfidencestricter，strongerandalsosweeterthanthosewhichbindtogetherthetwentyorthirtygentlemenwhoformaGovernment。FromthoseclosertieswhichhadhithertoboundhimtotheDukeofOmniumhethought，forawhile，thathemustdivorcehimself。SurelyonsuchasubjectasthenominationofaKnightoftheGarterhisadvicemighthavebeentaken，——ifonlybecauseithadcomefromhim！Andsohekepthimselfapartforadayortwo，andevenintheHouseofLordsceasedtowhisperkindly，cheerfulwordsintotheearsofhisnextneighbour。
Butvariousremembrancescrowdedinuponhimbydegrees，compellinghimtomoderateandatlasttoabandonhispurpose。
AmongthesethefirstwasthememoryofthekisshehadgiventotheDuchess。Thewomanhadtoldhimthatshelovedhim，thathewasoneoftheveryfewwhomshedidlove，——andthewordhadgonestraightintohisoldheart。Shehadbadehimnottodeserther。andhehadnotonlygivenherhispromise，buthehadconvertedthatpromiseintoasacredpledgebyakiss。Hehadknownwellwhyshehadexactedthepromise。Theturmoilinherhusband’smind，theagonywhichhesometimesenduredwhenpeoplespokeillofhim，theaversionwhichhehadatfirstgenuinelyfelttoanofficeforwhichhehardlythoughthimselffit，andnowthegradualloveofpowercreatedbytheexerciseofpower，hadallbeenseenbyher，andhadcreatedthatsolicitudewhichhadinducedhertoaskforthepromise。TheoldDukehadknownthembothwell，buthadhardlyasyetgiventheDuchesscreditforsotruedevotiontoherhusband。Itnowseemedtohimthat，thoughshehadfailedtolovetheman，shehadgivenherentirehearttothePrimeMinister。Hesympathizedwithheraltogether，and，atanyrate，couldnotgobackfromhispromise。
Andthenheremembered，too，thatifthismandidanythingamissinthehighofficewhichhehadbeenmadetofill，whohadinducedhimtofillitwasresponsible。Whatrighthadhe，theDukeofStBungay，tobeangrybecausehisfriendwasnotall-
wiseatallpoints？LettheDroughtsandtheDrummondsandtheBeeswaxesquarrelamongthemselvesorwiththeircolleagues。Hebelongedtoadifferentschool，intheteachingsofwhichtherewaslessperhapsofexcitementandmoreoflong-suffering——butsurely，also，moreofnobility。Hewas，atanyrate，toooldtochange，andhewouldthereforebetruetohisfriendthroughevilandthroughgood。HavingthoughtallthisoutheagainwhisperedsomecheerywordtothePrimeMinister，astheysatlisteningtothedenunciationsofLordFawn，aLiberallord，muchusedtobusiness，butwhohadnotbeenreceivedintotheCoalition。ThefirstwhisperandthesecondwhisperthePrimeMinisterreceivedverycoldly。Hehadfullyappreciatedthediscontinuanceofwhispers，andwasawareofthecause。Hehadmadeaselectiononhisownunassistedjudgmentinoppositiontohisoldfriend’sadvice，andthiswastheresult。Letitbeso！Allhisfriendswereturningawayfromhimandhewouldhavetostandalone。Ifso，hewouldstandalonetillthependulumoftheHouseofCommonshadtoldhimthatitwastimeforhimtoretire。Butgraduallythedeterminedgood-humouroftheoldmanprevailed。
’Hehasawonderfulgiftofsayingnothingwithsecond-ratedignity，’whisperedtherepentantfriend，speakingofLordFawn。
’Averyhonestman，’saidthePrimeMinisterinreturn。
’Asortofbastardhonesty，——bypreceptoutofstupidity。Thereisnorealconvictioninit，begottenbythought。’Thislittlebitofcriticism，harshasitwas，hadtheeffect，andthePrimeMinisterbecamelessmiserablethanhehadbeen。
ButLordDrummondforgavenothing。Hestillheldhisoffice，butmorethanoncehewasseeninprivateconferencewithbothSirOrlandoandMrBoffin。Hedidnotattempttoconcealhisanger。
LordEarlybird！Anoldwoman！OnewhomnoothermaninEnglandwouldhavethoughtofmakingaKnightoftheGarter！Itwasnot，hesaid，personaldisappointmentinhimself。Therewerehalf-a-
dozenpeerswhomhewouldhavewillinglyhaveseensogracedwithouttheslightestchagrin。ButthismusthavebeendonesimplytoshowtheDuke’spower，andtolettheworldunderstandthatheowednothingandwouldpaynothingtohissupporters。Itwasalmostadisgrace，saidLordDrummond，tobelongtoaGovernmenttheHeadofwhichcouldsocommithimself！TheSessionwasnearlyatanend，andLordDrummondthoughtthatnostepcouldbeconvenientlytakennow。Butitwasquitecleartohimthatthisstateofthingscouldnotbecontinued。ItwasobservedthatLordDrummondandthePrimeMinisterneverspoketoeachotherintheHouse，andthattheSecretaryofStateforColonies，——thatbeingtheofficewhichheheld，——neverroseinhisplaceafterLordEarlybird’snomination，unlesstosayawordortwoastohisownpeculiarduties。ItwasverysoonknowntoalltheworldthattherewaswartotheknifebetweenLordDrummondandthePrimeMinister。
And，strangetosay，thereseemedtobesomefeelingofgeneraldiscontentonthisverytriflingsubject。WhenAristideshadbeenmuchtoojusttheoyster-shellsbecamenumerous。ItwassaidthattheDukehadbeenguiltyofpretentiousloveofvirtueintakingLordEarlybirdoutofhisownpathoflifeandforcinghimtowriteK。G。afterhisname。Therecameoutanarticle，ofcourseinthePeople’sBanner，headed，OurPrimeMinister’sGoodWorks，inwhichpoorLordEarlybirdwasridiculedinaveryunbecomingmanner，andinwhichitwasassertedthatthethingwasdoneasacounterpoisetotheiniquitydisplayedin’houndingFerdinandLopeztohisdeath’。WheneverFerdinandLopezwasmentionedhehadalwaysbeenhounded。AndthenthearticlewentontodeclarethateitherthePrimeMinisterhadquarrelledwithallhiscolleagues，orelsethatallhiscolleagueshadquarrelledwiththePrimeMinister。MrSlidedidnotcarewhichitmightbe，but，whicheveritmightbe，thepoorcountryhadtosufferwhensuchastateofthingswaspermitted。ItwasnotoriousthatneithertheDukeofStBungaynorLordDrummondwouldnowevenspeaktotheirownchief，sothoroughlyweretheydisgustedwithhisconduct。IndeeditseemedthattheonlyallythePrimeMinisterhadinhisownCabinetwastheIrishadventurer，MrPhineasFinn。LordEarlybirdneverreadawordofallthis，andwasaltogetherundisturbedashesatinhischairinExeterHall，——orjustatthistimeoftheyearmorefrequentlyintheprovinces。ButtheDukeofOmniumreaditall。
AfterwhathadpassedhedidnotdareshowittohisbrotherDuke。Hedidnotdaretotellhisfriendthatitwassaidinthenewspapersthattheydidnotspeaktoeachother。ButeverywordfromMrSlide’spensettledonhisownmemory，andaddedtohistorments。ItcametobeafixedideaintheDuke’smindthatMrSlidewasagadflysenttotheearthfortheexpresspurposeofworryinghim。
AndasamatterofcoursethePrimeMinisterinhisownmindblamedhimselfforwhathehaddone。Itisthechieftormentofapersonconstitutedashewasthatstrongasmaybethedeterminationtodoathing，fixedasmaybetheconvictionthatthethingoughttobedone，nosoonerhasitbeenperfectedthantheobjectionsofothers，whichbeforehadbeeninefficaciousbecomesuddenlyendowedwithtruthandforce。HedidnotlikebeingtoldbyMrSlidethatheoughtnottohavesethiscabinetagainsthim，butwhenhehadinfactdoneso，thenhebelievedwhatMrSlidetoldhim。AssoonalmostastheirrecoverableletterhadbeenwingedonitswaytoLordEarlybird，hesawtheabsurdityofsendingit。Whowashethatheshouldventuretosetasideallthetraditionsofoffice？APittoraPeeloraPalmerstonmighthavedoneso，becausetheyhadbeenabnormallystrong。TheyhadbeenPrimeMinistersbytheworkoftheirownhands，holdingtheirpowersagainstthewholeworld。Buthe，——
hetoldhimselfdailyhewasonlytherebysufferance，becauseatthemomentnooneelsecouldbefoundtotakeit。Insuchaconditionshouldhehavenothavebeenboundbythetraditionsofoffice，boundbytheadviceofonesoexperiencedandsotrueastheDukeofStBungay？Andforwhomhadhebrokenthroughthesetraditionsandthrownawaythisadvice？ForamanwhohadnopowerwhatevertohelphimoranyotherMinisteroftheCrown——
foronewhoseeverypursuitinlifewasatvariancewiththeacquisitionofsuchhonoursasthatnowthrustuponhim！Hecouldseehisownobstinacy，andcouldevenhatethepretentiousloveofvirtuewhichhehimselfhaddisplayed。
’HaveyouseenLordEarlybirdwithhisribbon？’hiswifesaidtohim。
’IdonotknowLordEarlybirdbysight，’herepliedangrily。
’Noranyoneelseeither。Buthewouldhavecomedownandshownithimselftoyou，ifhehadasparkofgratitudeinhiscomposition。AsfarasIcanlearnyouhavesacrificedtheMinistryforhissake。’
’IdidmydutyasbestIknewhowtodoit，’saidtheDuke，almostwithferocity，’anditlittlebecomesyoutotauntmewithmydeficiency。’
’Plantagenet！’
’Iamdriven，’hesaid，’almostbeyondmyself，anditkillsmewhenyoutakepartagainstme。’
’Takepartagainstyou！SurelytherewasverylittleinwhatI
said。’Andyet，asshespoke，sherepentedbitterlythatshehadatthemomentallowedherselftorelapseintothesortofbadinagewhichhadbeenusualwithherbeforeshehadunderstoodtheextentofhissufferings。’IfItroubleyoubywhatIsay，I
willcertainlyholdmytongue。’
’Don’trepeattomewhatthatmansaysinthenewspaper。’
’Youshouldn’tregardtheman，Plantagenet。Youshouldn’tallowthepapertocomeintoyourhands。’
’AmItobeafraidofseeingwhatmensayofme？Never！Butyouneednotrepeatit，atanyrateifitbefalse。’Shehadnotseenthearticleinquestionorshecertainlywouldnothaverepeatedtheaccusationitcontained。’Ihavequarrelledwithnocolleague。IfsuchaoneasLordDrummondchoosestothinkhimselfinjured，amItostooptohim？Nothingstrikesmesomuchinallthisastheill-natureoftheworldatlarge。Whentheyusedtobaitabeartiedtoastake，everyonearoundwouldcheerthedogsandhelptormentthehelplessanimal。Itismuchthesamenow，onlytheyhaveamaninsteadofabearfortheirpleasure。’
’Iwillneverhelpthedogsagain，’shesaid，cominguptohimandclinginghimwithintheembraceofhisarm。
HeknewthathehadbeenQuixotic，andhewouldsitinhischairrepeatingthewordtohimselfaloud，tillhehimselfbegantofearthathewoulddoitincompany。Butthethinghadbeendoneandcouldnotbeundone。HehadhadthebestowalofoneGarter，andhehadgivenittoLordEarlybird！Itwas，——hetoldhimself，butnotcorrectly，——theonlythinghehaddoneonhisownundividedresponsibilitysincehehadbeenPrimeMinister。
ThelastdaysofJulyhadpassed，andithadbeenatlastdecidedthattheSessionshouldcloseonthe11thAugust。Nowthe11thofAugustwasthoughttobeagreatdealtonearthe12thtoallowofsuchanarrangementbeingconsideredsatisfactory。A
greatmanymemberswereangryatthearrangement。IthadbeensaidallthroughJuneandintoJulythatitwastobeanearlySession，andyetthingshadbeensomismanagedthatwhentheendcameeverythingcouldnotbefinishedwithoutkeepingmembersofParliamentintownonthe11thAugust！Inthememoryofthepresentlegislatorstherehadneverbeenanythingsoawkward。
Thefault，iftherewasafault，wasattributabletoMrMonk。Inallprobabilitythedelaywasunavoidable。Aministercannotcontrollong-windedgentlemen，andwhengentlemenareverylong-
windedtheremustbedelay。Nodoubtastrongministercanexercisesomecontrol，anditiscertainthatlong-windedgentlemenfindanunusualscopefortheirbreathwhenthereigningdynastyisweak。InthatwayMrMonkandtheDukemayhavebeenresponsible，buttheywereblamedasthoughthey，fortheirownspecialamusement，detainedgentlemenintown。Indeedthegentlemenwerenotdetained。Theygrumbledandgrowledandthenfled，——buttheirgrumblingsandgrowlingswereheardevenaftertheirdeparture。
’Well——whatdoyouthinkofitall？’theDukesaidonedaytoMrMonkattheTreasury，affectinganairofcheerygood-humour。
’Ithink，’saidMrMonk，’thatthecountryisveryprosperous。I
don’tknowthatIeverremembertradetohavebeenmoreevenlysatisfactory。’
’Ah，yes。That’sverywellforthecountry，andought，I
suppose，tosatisfyme。’
’Itsatisfiesme，’saidMrMonk。
’Andme，inaway。Butifyouwerewalkingaboutinaverytightpairofboots，inagonywithyourfeet，wouldyoubeablejustthentorelishthenewsthatagriculturalwagesinthatparishhadgoneupsixpenceaweek？’
’I’dtakemybootsoff，andthentry，’saidMrMonk。
’That’sjustwhatI’mthinkingofdoing。IfIhadmybootsoffallthatprosperitywouldbesopleasanttome！But，yousee，youcan’ttakeyourbootsoffincompany。Anditmaybethatyouhaveawalkbeforeyou，andthatnobootswillbeworseforyourfeetthantightones。’
’We’llhaveourbootsoffsoon，Duke，’saidMrMonk，speakingoftherecess。
’Andwhenshallwebequitofthemaltogether？Jokingapart，theyhavetobewornifthecountryrequiresit。’
’Certainly，Duke。’
’AnditmaybethatyouandIthinkuponthewholetheymaybewornwithadvantage。Whatdoesthecountrysaytothat？’
’Thecountryneversaysthereverse。WehavenothadamajorityagainstusthisSessiononanyGovernmentquestion。’
’Butwehavehadnarrowingmajorities。WhatwilltheHousedoastotheLords’amendmentsontheBankruptcyBill？TherewasabillthathadgonedownfromtheHouseofCommons，buthadnotoriginatedwiththeGovernment。Ithad，however，beenfosteredbyministersoftheHouseofLords，andhadbeensentbackwithcertainamendmentsforwhichtheLordChancellorhadmadehimselfresponsible。ItwasthereforenowalmostaGovernmentmeasure。
ThemanipulationofthismeasurehadbeenoneofthecausesoftheprolongedsittingoftheHouses。’
’Grogramsaystheywilltaketheamendments。’
’Andiftheydon’t？’
’Whythen，’saidMrMonk，’theLordsmusttakeourrejection。’
’Andweshallhavebeenbeaten，’saidtheDuke。
’Undoubtedly。’
’AndsimplybecausetheHousedesirestobeatus。IamtoldSirTimothyBeeswaxintendstospeakandvoteagainsttheamendments。’
’What，——SirTimothyononeside，andSirGregoryontheother？’
’SoLordRamsdentellsme，’saidtheDuke。’Ifitbeso，whatarewetodo？’
’CertainlynotgooutinAugust，’saidMrMonk。
WhenthetimecamefortheconsiderationoftheLords’amendmentsintheHouseofCommons，——anditdidnotcometillthe8thofAugust，——thematterwasexactlyastheDukehadsaid。SirGregoryGrogram，withadealofearnestness，supportedtheLords’
amendments，——ashewasinhonourboundtodo。Theamendmenthadcomefromhischief，theLordChancellor，andhadindeedbeendiscussedwithSirGregorybeforeithadbeenproposed。Hewasverymuchinearnest——butitwasevidentfromSirGregory’searnestnessthatheexpectedaviolentopposition。ImmediatelyafterhimroseSirTimothy。NowSirTimothywasapretentiousman，whoassumedtobenotonlyanadvocatebutalawyer。Andheassumedalsotobeapoliticalmagnate。Hewentintothematteratgreatlength。Hebeganbysayingthatitwasnotapartyquestion。Thebill，whichhehadhadthehonourofsupportingbeforeitwentfromtheirownHouse，hadbeenaprivatebill。AssuchithadreceivedageneralsupportfromtheGovernment。IthadbeenmateriallyalteredintheotherHouseundertheauspicesofhisnoblefriendonthewoolsack，butfromthosealterationshewasobligedtodissent。ThenhesaidsomeveryheavythingsagainsttheLordChancellor，andincreasedinacerbityashedescribedwhathecalledthealteredmindofhishonourableandlearnedfriendtheAttorney-General。HethenmadesomeveryuncomplimentaryallusionstothePrimeMinister，whomheaccusedofbeingmorethanordinarilyreservedwithhissubordinates。
ThespeechwasmanifestlyarrangedanddeliveredwiththeexpressviewofdamagingtheCoalition，ofwhichatthetimehehimselfmadeapart。MenobservedthatthingswereverymuchalteredwhensuchacourseasthatwastakenintheHouseofCommons。
ButthatcoursewastakenonthisoccasionbySirTimothyBeeswax，andwassofartakenwithsuccessthattheLords’
amendmentswererejectedandtheGovernmentwasbeateninathinHouse，byalargemajority——composedpartlyofitsownmen。
’WhatamItodo？’askedthePrimeMinisteroftheoldDuke。
’TheoldDuke’sanswerwasexactlythesameasthatgivenbyMrMonk。’WecannotresigninAugust。’Andthenhewenton。’WemustwaitandseehowthingsgoatthebeginningofnextSession。
ThechiefquestioniswhetherSirTimothyshouldnotbeaskedtoresign。’
ThentheSessionwasatanend，andtheywhohadbeenstaunchtolastgotoutoftownasquickasthetrainscouldcarrythem。
CHAPTER67
MRSLOPEZPREPARESTOMOVE。
TheDuchessofOmniumwasnotthemostdiscreetwomanintheworld。Thatwasadmittedbyherbestfriends，andwasthegreatsinallegedagainstherbyherworstenemies。Inherdesiretosaysharpthings，shewouldsaythesharpthinginthewrongplace，andinherwishtobegood-naturedshewasapttorunintooffences。Justasshewasabouttoleavetown，whichdidnottakeplaceforsomedaysafterParliamenthadrisen，shemadeanindiscreetpropositiontoherhusband。’ShouldyoumindaskingMrsLopezdowntoMatching？Weshallonlybeasmallparty。’
NowtheverynameofLopezwasterribletotheDuke’sears。
AnythingwhichrecalledthewretchandthatwretchedtragedytotheDuke’smindgavehimastab。TheDuchessoughttohavefeltthatanycommunicationbetweenherhusbandandeventheman’swidowwastobeavoidedratherthansought。’Quiteoutofthequestion！’saidtheDuke，drawinghimselfup。
’Whyoutofthequestion？’
’ThereareathousandreasonsIcouldnothaveit。’
’ThenIshallsaynothingmoreaboutit。Butthere’saromancethere，——somethingquitetouching。’
’Youdon’tmeanthatshehas——alover？’
’Well——yes。’
’Andshelostherhusbandonlytheotherday，——losthiminsoterribleamanner？IfthatissocertainlyIdonotwishtoseeheragain。’
’Ah，thatisbecauseyoudon’tknowthestory。’
’Idon’twishtoknowit。’
’ThemanwhowantstomarryherknewherlongbeforeshehadseenLopez，andhadofferedtohersomanytimes。Heisafinefellow，andyouknowhim。’
’Ihadrathernothearanymoreaboutit，’saidtheDuke，walkingaway。
TherewasanendtotheDuchess’sschemeofgettingEmilydowntoMatching，——aschemewhichcouldhardlyhavebeensuccessfulevenhadtheDukenotobjectedtoit。ButyettheDuchesswouldnotabandonherprojectofbefriendingthewidow。ShehadinjuredLopez。ShehadlikedwhatshehadseenofMrsLopez。AndshewasnowendeavouringtotakeArthurFletcherbythehand。ShecalledthereforeatManchesterSquareonthedaybeforeshestartedforMatching，andleftacardandanote。Thiswasonthe15thofAugust，whenLondonwasasemptyasiteveris。ThestreetsattheWestEndweredeserted。Thehouseswereshutup。
Theverysweepersofthecrossingsseemedtohavegoneoutoftown。Thepublicofficesweremannedbyoneortwounfortunateseach，whoconsoledthemselvesbyreadingnovelsattheirdesks。
Halfthecab-drivershadgoneapparentlytotheseaside，——ortobed。Theshopswerestillopen，butalltherespectableshopkeeperswereeitherinSwitzerlandorattheirmarinevillas。
ThetravellingworldhaddivideditselfintoCookitesandHookites：——thosewhoescapedtroubleundertheauspicesofMrCook，andthosewhoboldlycombattedtheextortionsofforeigninnkeepersandtheAnti-Anglicantendenciesofforeignrailwayofficials’ontheirownhooks。’TheDuchessofOmniumwasneverthelessintown，andtheDukemightstillbeseengoinginatthebackentranceoftheTreasuryChamberseverydayateleveno’clock。MrWarburtonthoughtitveryhard，forhe，too，couldshootgrouse。buthewouldhaveperishedratherthanhavespokenaword。
TheDuchessdidnotasktoseeMrsLopez，butlefthercardandanote。Shehadnotliked，shesaid，toleavetownwithoutcalling，thoughshewouldnotseektobeadmitted。ShehopedthatMrsLopezwasrecoveringherhealth，andtrustedthatonherreturntotownshemightbeallowedtorenewheracquaintance。
Thenotewasverysimple，andcouldnotbetakenasotherthanfriendly。IfshehadbeensimplyMrsPalliser，andherhusbandhadbeenajuniorclerkintheTreasury，suchavisitwouldhavebeenacourtesy。anditwasnotlesssobecauseitwasmadebytheDuchessofOmniumandbythewifeofthePrimeMinister。Butyetamongallthepoorwidow’sacquaintanceshewastheonlyonewhohadventuredtocallsinceLopezhaddestroyedhimself。MrsRobyhadbeentoldnottocome。LadyEustacehadbeensternlyrejected。EvenoldMrsFletcherwhenshehadbeenupintown，had，afteraverysolemnmeetingwithMrWharton，contentedherselfwithsendingherlove。IthadcometopassthattheideaofbeingimmuredwasgrowingtobenaturaltoEmilyherself。Thelongerthatitwascontinuedthemorediditseemtobeimpossibletoherthatsheshouldbreakfromherseclusion。ButyetshewasgratifiedbythenotefromtheDuchess。
’Shemeanstobecivil，papa，’
’Ohyes，——buttherearepeoplewhosecivilityIdon’twant。’
’Certainly。IdidnotwantthecivilityofthathorridLadyEustace。ButIcanunderstandthis。ShethinksthatshedidFerdinandaninjury。’
’Whenyoubegin，mydear，——andIhopeitwillbesoon，——togetbacktotheworld，youwillfinditmorecomfortable，Ithink，tofindyourselfamongyourownpeople。’
’Idon’twanttogoback，’shesaid，sobbingbitterly。
’ButIwantyoutogoback。Allwhoknowyouwantyoutogoback。Onlydon’tbeginatthatend。’
’Youdon’tsuppose，papa，thatIwishtogototheDuchess？’
’Iwishyoutogosomewhere。Itcan’tbegoodforyoutoremainhere。IndeedIshallthinkitwicked，oratanyrateweak，ifyoucontinuetosecludeyourself。’
’WhereshallIgo，’shesaidimploringly。
’ToWharton。Icertainlythinkyououghttogotherefirst。’
’Ifyouwouldgo，papa，andleavemehere，——justthisonce。
NextyearIwillgo，——iftheyaskme。’
’WhenImaybedead，foraughtanyofusknow。’
’Donotsaythat，papa。Ofcourseanyonemaydie。’
’Icertainlyshallnotgowithoutyou。Youmaytakethatascertain。IsitlikelythatIshouldleaveyoualoneinAugustandSeptemberinthisgreatgloomyhouse？Ifyoustay，Ishallstay。’Nowthismeantagreatdealthanithadmeantinformeryears。SinceLopezhaddiedMrWhartonhadnotoncedinedattheEldon。Hecamehomeregularlyatsixo’clock，satwithhisdaughteranhourbeforedinner，andthenremainedwithheralltheevening。Itseemedasthoughheweredeterminedtoforceheroutofhersolitudebyhernaturalconsiderationforhim。Shewouldimplorehimtogotohisclubandhavehisrubber，buthewouldnevergiveway。No——hedidn’tcarefortheEldon，anddislikedwhist。Sohesaid。Tillatlasthespokemoreplainly。
’Youaredullenoughhereallday，andIwillnotleaveyouintheevenings。’Therewasapersistenttendernessinthiswhichshehadnotexpectedfromtheantecedentsofhislife。When，therefore，hetoldherthathewouldnotgointothecountrywithouther，shefeltherselfalmostconstrainedtoyield。
Andshewouldhaveyieldedatoncebutforonefear。HowcouldsheinsuretoherselfthatArthurFletchershouldnotbethere？
OfcoursehewouldbeatLongbarns，andhowcouldshepreventhiscomingoverfromLongbarnstoWharton？Shecouldhardlybringherselftoaskthequestionofherfather。ButshefeltaninsuperableobjectiontofindingherselfinArthur’spresence。
Ofcourseshelovedhim。Ofcourseinalltheworldhewasthedearestofalltoher。Ofcourseifshecouldwipeoutthepastaswithawettowel，ifshecouldputthecrapeofhermindaswellasfromherlimbs，shewouldbecomehiswifewiththegreatestjoy。Buttheveryfeelingthatshelovedhimwasdisgracefultoherinherownthoughts。ShehadallowedhiscaresswhileLopezwasstillherhusband，——thehusbandwhohadill-usedherandbetrayedher，whohadsoughttodragherdowntohisowndepthofbaseness。Butnowshecouldnotenduretothinkthattheothermanshouldeventouchher。Itwasforbiddentoher，shebelieved，byallthecanonsofwomanhoodevetothinkofloveagain。Thereoughttobenothingleftforherbutcrapeandweepers。Shehaddoneitallbyherownobstinacy，andshecouldmakenocompensationeithertoherfamily，ortheworld，ortoherownfeelings，butbydrinkingthecupofhermiserydowntotheverydregs。Eventothinkofjoywouldinherbeatreason。
Onthatoccasionshedidnotyieldtoherfather，conqueringhimasshehadconqueredhimbeforethepleadingofherlooksratherthanherwords。
Butadayortwoafterwardshecametoherwithargumentsofaverydifferentkind。HeatanyratemustgotoWhartonimmediatelyinreferencetoaletterofvitalimportancewhichhehadreceivedfromSirAlured。ThereadermayperhapsrememberthatSirAlured’sheir——theheirtothetitleandproperty——wasanephewforwhomheentertainednoaffectionwhatever。ThisWhartonhadbeendiscardedbyalltheWhartonsasaprofligatedrunkard。SomeyearsagoSirAluredhadendeavouredtoreclaimtheman，andspentperhapsmoremoneythanhadbeenjustifiedindoingintheendeavour，seeingthat，aspresentoccupieroftheproperty，hewasboundtoprovideforhisowndaughters，andthatathisdeatheveryacremustgotothisne’er-do-well。Themoneyhadbeenallowedtoflowlikewaterforatwelvemonthandhaddonenogoodwhatever。Therehadbeennohope。Themanwasstrongandlikelytolive，——andafterawhilehadmarriedawife，somewomanthathetookfromtheverystreets。Thishadbeenhislastknownachievement，andfromthatmomentnotevenhadhisnamebeenmentionedatWharton。Nowtherecametidingsofhisdeath。ItwassaidthathehadperishedinsomeattempttocrosssomeglaciersinSwitzerland——butbydegreesitappearedthattheglacieritselfhadbeenlessdangerousthanthebrandywhichhehadswallowedwhilstonhisjourney。Atanyratehewasdead。AstothatSirAlured’sletterwascertain。Andhewasequallycertainthathehadleftnoson。
ThesetidingswerequiteimportanttoMrWhartonastoSirAlured，——moreimportanttoEverettWhartonthantoeitherofthem，ashewouldinheritallafterthedeathofthosetwooldmen。Atthismomenthewasawayyachtingwithafriend，andevenhisaddresswasunknown。LetterforhisweretobesenttoOban，andmight，ormightnot，reachhiminthecourseofamonth。ButinamanofSirAlured’sfeelings，thiscatastropheproducedagreatchange。Theheirtohistitleandpropertywasonewhomhewasboundtoregardwithaffectionandalmostwithreverence，——
ifitwereonlypossibleforhimtodoso。Withhislateheirithadbeenimpossible。ButEverettWhartonhehadalwaysliked。
Everetthadnotbeenquiteallthathisfatherandunclehadwished。Buthisfaultshadbeenexactlythosewhichcouldbecured，——orwouldalmostbevirtues，——bythepossessionofatitleandproperty。DistasteforaprofessionandaptitudeforParliamentwouldbecomeayoungmanwhowasheirnotonlytotheWhartonestates，buttohalfhisfather’smoney。
SirAluredinhisletterexpressedahopethatEverettmightbeinformedinstantly。HewouldhavewrittenhimselfhadheknownEverett’saddress。Buthedidknowthathiseldercousinwasintown，andhebesoughthiseldercousintocomeatonce，——quiteatonce，——toWharton。Emily，hesaid，wouldofcourseaccompanyherfatheronsuchanoccasion。ThentherewerelonglettersfromMaryWharton，andevenfromLadyWharton，toEmily。TheWhartonsmusthavebeenverymuchmovedwhenLadyWhartoncouldbeinducedtowritealongletter。TheWhartonswereverymuchmoved。Theywereinastateofenthusiasmatthesenews，amountingalmosttofury。Itseemedasthoughtheythoughtthateverytenantandlabourerontheestate，andeverytenantalabourer’swife，wouldbeinanabnormalconditionandunfitforthedutiesoflife，tilltheyshouldhaveseenEverettasheirtotheproperty。LadyWhartonwentsofarastotellEmilywhichbedroomwasbeingpreparedforEverett，——abedroomverydifferentinhonourfromanybytheoccupationofwhichhehadyetbeengraced。Andthereweretwentypointsastonewwillsandnewdeedsastowhichthepresentbaronetwantedtheimmediateadviceofhiscousin。Therewereascoreofthingswhichcouldnowbedonewhichwerebeforeimpossible。Treescouldbecutdown，andbuildingsputup。andalittlebitoflandsold，andalittlebitoflandbought——thedoingofallwhichwouldgivenewlifetoSirAlured。Alifeinterestinanestateisamuchpleasanterthingwhentheheirisafriendwhocanbewalkedabouttheproperty，thanwhenheisanenemywhomustbekeptatarm’slength。AllthesedelightscouldnowbeSirAlured’s，——iftheoldheirwouldgivehimhiscounselandtheyoungonehisassistance。
ThischangeofaffairsoccasionedsomeflutteralsoinManchesterSquare。ItcouldnotmakemuchdifferencepersonallytooldMrWharton。Hewas，infact，asoldasthebaronet，anddidnotpaymuchregardtohisownchanceofsuccession。Butthepositionwasonewhichwouldsuithimadmirably，andhewasnowongoodtermswithhisson。HehadconvincedhimselfthatLopezhaddoneallthathecouldtoseparatethem，andthereforefoundhimselftobemoreboundtohissonthanever。’Wemustgoatonce，’hesaidtohisdaughter，speakingasthoughhehadforgottenhermiseryforthemoment。
’IsupposeyouandEverettoughttobethere。’
’HeavenknowswhereEverettis。Ioughttobethere，andI
supposethatonsuchanoccasionasthisyouwillcondescendtogowithme。’
’Condescend，papa——whatdoesthatmean？’
’YouknowIcannotgoalone。ItisoutofthequestionthatI
shouldleaveyouhere。’
’Why，papa？’
’Andatsuchatimethefamilyoughttocometogether。Ofcoursetheywilltakeitverymuchamissifyourefuse。WhatwillLadyWhartonthinkifyourefuseaferherwritingsuchaletterasthat？Itismydutytotellyouthatyououghttogo。Youcannotthinkthatisrighttothrowovereveryfriendthatyouhaveintheworld。’
Therewasagreatdealmoresaidinwhichitalmostseemedthatthefather’stendernesshadwornout。Hiswordsweremuchrougherandmoreimperiousthananythathehadyetspokensincehisdaughterhadbecomeawidow，buttheywerealsomoreefficacious，andthereforeprobablymoresalutary。Aftertwenty-
fourhoursofthisshefoundshewasobligedtoyield，andatelegramwassenttoWharton，——bynomeansthefirsttelegramthathadbeensentsincethenewshadarrived，——sayingthatEmilywouldaccompanyherfather。Theyweretooccupythemselvesfortwodaysfurtherinpreparationsfortheirjourney。