who are petted on all sides,” said Phineas.  “As for her beauty, I don’t think much of it,” said Mr. Kennedy; “and as for petting, I do not understand it in reference to grown persons.  Children may be petted, and dogs,—­though that too is bad; but what you call petting for grown persons is I think frivolous and almost indecent.”  Phineas could not help thinking of Lord Chiltern’s opinion that it would have been wise to have left Mr. Kennedy in the hands of the garrotters.

The debate on the second reading of the bill was to be commenced on the 1st of March, and two days before that Lady Laura arrived in Grosvenor Place.  Phineas got a note from her in three words to say that she was at home and would see him if he called on Sunday afternoon.  The Sunday to which she alluded was the last day of February.  Phineas was now more certain than ever that something was wrong.  Had there been nothing wrong between Lady Laura and her husband, she would not have rebelled against him by asking visitors to the house on a Sunday.  He had nothing to do with that, however, and of course he did as he was desired.  He called on the Sunday, and found Mrs. Bonteen sitting with Lady Laura.  “I am just in time for the debate,” said Lady Laura, when the first greeting was over.

“You don’t mean to say that you intend to sit it out,” said Mrs. Bonteen.

“Every word of it,—­unless I lose my seat.  What else is there to be done at present?”

“But the place they give us is so unpleasant,” said Mrs. Bonteen.

“There are worse places even than the Ladies’ Gallery,” said Lady Laura.  “And perhaps it is as well to make oneself used to inconveniences of all kinds.  You will speak, Mr. Finn?”

“I intend to do so.”

“Of course you will.  The great speeches will be Mr. Gresham’s, Mr. Daubeny’s, and Mr. Monk’s.”

“Mr. Palliser intends to be very strong,” said Mrs. Bonteen.

“A man cannot be strong or not as he likes it,” said Lady Laura.  “Mr. Palliser I believe to be a most useful man, but he never can become an orator.  He is of the same class as Mr. Kennedy,—­only of course higher in the class.”

“We all look for a great speech from Mr. Kennedy,” said Mrs. Bonteen.

“I have not the slightest idea whether he will open his lips,” said Lady Laura.  Immediately after that Mrs. Bonteen took her leave.  “I hate that woman like poison,” continued Lady Laura.  “She is always playing a game, and it is such a small game that she plays!  And she contributes so little to society.  She is not witty nor well-informed,—­not even sufficiently ignorant or ridiculous to be a laughing-stock.  One gets nothing from her, and yet she has made her footing good in the world.”

“I thought she was a friend of yours.”

“You did not think so!  You could not have thought so!  How can you bring such an accusation against me, knowing me as you do?  But never mind Mrs. Bonteen now.  On what day shall you speak?”