ertheless he admired Lady Laura very much, and she was worthy of admiration. It was probably the greatest pride of our hero'

bound them together. No - he was not in love with Lady Laura Standish. He had not the remotest idea of asking her to be his wife. So he told himself, both before he went over for his election, and after his return. When he had found himself in a corner with poor little Mary Flood Jones, he had kissed her as a matter of course; but he did not think that he could, in any circumstances, be tempted to kiss Lady Laura. He supposed that he was in love with his darling little Mary - after a fashion. Of course, it could never come to anything, because of the circumstances of his life, which were so imperious to him. He was not in love with La

the afternoon her drawing-room would probably be half full of people. There would, at any rate, be comers and goers, who would prevent anything like real conversation between himself and her. But for a few minutes before that he might probably find her alone, and

d Chiltern, the Earl's son and heir, who did indeed live at the family town house in Portman Square; but Lord Chiltern was a man of whom Lady Laura's set did not often speak, and Phineas, frequently as he had been at the house, had never seen Lord Chiltern there. He was a young nobleman of whom various accounts were given by various people; but I fear that the account most readily accepted in London attributed to him a great intimacy with the affairs at Newmarket, and a partiality for convivial pleasures. Respecting Lord Chiltern Phineas

lacked that softness which we all love in women. Her eyes, which were large and bright, and very clear, never seemed to quail, never rose and sunk or showed themselves to be afraid of their own power. Indeed, Lady Laura Standish had nothing of fear about her. Her nose was perfectly cut, but was rather large, having the slightest possible tendency to be aquiline. Her mouth also was large, but was full of expression, and her teeth were perfect. Her complexion was very bright, but in spite of its brightness she never blushed. The shades of her complexion were set and steady. Those who knew her said that her heart was so fully under command that nothing could stir her blood to any sudden motion. As to that accusation of straggling which had been made against her, it had sprung from ill-natured observat

is good fortune, and others who thought nothing of it because it had been theirs for years. Now he would try a friend who, he hoped, could sympathise; and therefore he called in Portman Square at about half past two on the Sunday morning. Yes - Lady Laura was in the drawing-room. The hall porter admitted as much, but evidently seemed to think that he had been disturbed from his dinner before his time. Phineas did not care a straw for the hall porter. If Lady Laura were not kind to him, he would never trouble that h

nn," said Lady Laura, meeting Phin

d he, as he t

would manage to see me bef

, I have wished it; thoug

very glad that you have been successful - so very glad. You know I told

refore I

s duty to make his way into the House - that is, if he ever means to be anybody. Of

ve in the world says th

say so," sai

together. It is such a comfort to have

e better than mine, because they shall be weighted with the wisdom of age. I have heard him sa

was thinking of

see - can you dine here on Wednesday? There will be no party, of course, but papa will want to shake hands w

feeling, however, that he did not ex

l ask your friend Mr Fitzgibbon. There will be nobody else. As for catch

being ruined - " said

f anything so

e of ruin. Supposing that I have to emigrate and skin sheep, what does it matter? I myself, being unencumbered, have myself as my own pr

ep-skinning, Mr Finn,

shall

oor after him. He was a man with thick short red hair, and an abundance of very red beard. And his face was red - and as it seemed to Phine

d then Lady Laura spoke. "It was my brother Chiltern. I