‘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.
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.
