‘I am the only man who does not mean to change.’

‘How so?’

‘I shall stay where I am,—­on the Government side of the House.’

‘Are you clear about that, my boy?’

‘Quite clear.’

‘Such changes should not be made without very much consideration.’

’I have already written to them at Silverbridge and have had three or four answers.  Mr De Boung says that the borough is more than grateful.  Mr Sprout regrets it much, and suggests a few months’ consideration.  Mr Sprugeon seems to think it does not much signify.’

‘That is hardly complimentary.’

’No;—­not to me.  But he is very civil to the family.  As long as a Palliser represents the borough, Mr Sprugeon thinks that it does not matter on which side he may sit.  I have had my little vagary, and I don’t think that I shall change again.’

’I suppose that it is your republican bride-elect that has done that,’ said the Duke laughing.

CHAPTER 79

The First Wedding

As Easter Sunday fell on the seventeenth of April, and as the arrangement of the new Cabinet, with its inferior offices, was not completed till the sixth of that month, there was only just time for the new elections before the holidays.  Mr Monk sat on his bench so comfortably that he hardly seemed ever to have been off it.  And Phineas Finn resumed the peculiar ministerial tone of voice just as though he had never allowed himself to use the free and indignant strains of the opposition.  As to a majority,—­nothing as yet was known about that.  Some few besides Silverbridge might probably transfer themselves to the Government.  None of the ministers lost their seats in the new elections.  The opposite party seemed for a while to have been paralysed by the defection of Sir Timothy, and men who liked a quiet life were able to comfort themselves with the reflection that nothing could be done this session.

For our loves this was convenient.  Neither of them would have allowed their parliamentary energies to have interfered at such a crisis with his domestic affairs; but still it was well to have time at command.  The day for the marriage of Isabel and Silverbridge had been now fixed.  That was to take place on the Wednesday after Easter, and was to be celebrated by special royal favour in the chapel at Whitehall.  All the Pallisers would be there, and all the relations of the Pallisers, all the ambassadors, and of course all the Americans in London.  It would be a ‘wretched grind’, as Silverbridge said, but it had to be done.  In the meantime the whole party, including the new President of the Council, were down at Matching.  Even Isabel, though it must be presumed that she had much to do in looking after her bridal garments, was able to be there for a day or two.  But Tregear was the person to whom this visit was of the greatest importance.