‘She can’t marry without his leave.’

‘Perhaps not.’

’That he’ll never give,—­and I don’t suppose you look forward to waiting till his death.’

’If he sees her happiness really depends on it he will give his leave.  It all depends on that.  If I judge your father rightly, he’s just as soft-hearted as other people.  The man who holds out is not the man of the firmest opinion, but the man of the hardest heart.’

‘Somebody will talk Mary over.’

‘If so, the thing is over.  It all depends on her.’  Then he went on to tell his friend that he had spoken of his engagement with Lady Mabel.  ’I have mentioned it to no soul but to your father and her.’

‘Why to her?’

’Because we were friends together as children.  I never had a sister, but she has been more like a sister to me than anyone else.  Do you object to her knowing it?’

’Not particularly.  It seems to me now that everybody knows everything.  There are no longer any secrets.’

‘She is a special friend.’

‘Of yours,’ said Silverbridge.

‘And of yours,’ said Tregear.

‘Well, yes;—­in a sort of way.  She is the jolliest girl I know.’

’Take her all round, for beauty, intellect, good sense, and fun at the same time.  I don’t know anyone equal to her.’

‘It’s a pity you didn’t fall in love with her.’

’We knew each other too early for that.  And then she has not a shilling.  I should think myself dishonest if I did not tell you that I could not afford any girl who hadn’t money.  A man must live,—­and a woman too.’

At the station they were met by Mr Spurgeon and Mr Sprout, who, with many apologies for the meanness of such entertainment, took them up to the George and Vulture, which was supposed for the nonce to be the Conservative hotel in the town.  Here they were met by other men of importance in the borough, and among them by Mr Du Boung.  Now Mr Sprout and Mr Spurgeon were Conservatives but Mr Du Boung was a strong Liberal.

’We are, all of us, particularly glad to see your Lordship among us,’ said Mr Du Boung.

’I have told his Lordship how perfectly satisfied you are to see the borough in his Lordship’s hands,’ said Mr Spurgeon.

‘I am sure it could not be in better,’ said Mr Du Boung.  ’For myself I an quite willing to postpone any particular shade of politics to the advantage of having your father’s son as our representative.’  This Mr Du Boung said with much intention of imparting both grace and dignity to the occasion.  He thought that he was doing a great thing for the House of Omnium, and that the House of Omnium ought to know it.

‘That’s very kind of you,’ said Lord Silverbridge, who had not read as carefully as he should have done the letters which had been sent to him, and did not therefore quite understand the position.

‘Mr Du Boung had intended to stand himself,’ said Mr Sprout.