before he went up to his parliamentary duties.

The second was as follows: Among the letters on the following morning
one was brought to him from Tregear. It is hoped that the reader will
remember the lover's former letter and the very unsatisfactory answer
which had been sent to it. Nothing could have been colder, less
propitious, or more inveterately hostile than the reply. As he lay
in bed with his broken bones at Harrington he had ample time for
thinking over all this. He knew every word of the Duke's distressing
note by heart, and had often lashed himself to rage as he had
repeated it. But he could effect nothing by showing his anger. He
must go on and still do something. Since the writing of that letter
he had done something. He had got his seat in Parliament. And he
had secured the interest of his friend Silverbridge. This had been
partially done at Polwenning; but the accident in the Brake country
had completed the work. The brother had at last declared himself
in his friend's favour. "Of course I should be glad to see it," he
had said while sitting by Tregear's bedside. "The worst is that
everything does seem to go against the poor governor."

Then Tregear made up his mind that he would write another letter.
Personally he was not in the best condition for doing this as he was
lying in bed with his left arm tied up, and with straps and bandages
all round his body. But he could sit up in bed, and his right hand
and arm were free. So he declared to Lady Chiltern his purpose of
writing a letter. She tried to dissuade him gently and offered to be
his secretary. But when he assured her that no secretary could write
this letter for him she understood pretty well what would be the
subject of the letter. With considerable difficulty Tregear wrote his
letter.

MY LORD DUKE,--[On this occasion he left out the epithet
which he had before used]

Your Grace's reply to my last letter was not encouraging,
but in spite of your prohibition I venture to write to you
again. If I had the slightest reason for thinking that
your daughter was estranged from me, I would not persecute
either you or her. But if it be true that she is as
devoted to me as I am to her, can I be wrong in pleading
my cause? Is it not evident to you that she is made
of such stuff that she will not be controlled in her
choice,--even by your will?

I have had an accident in the hunting-field and am now
writing f