ur fellows. Sir Timothy probably
knew what he was about, and did himself on the whole more good than
harm by his little tricks.

As soon as Sir Timothy had taken his seat, Mr. Rattler got up
from the opposition bench to ask him some question on a matter of
finance. The brewers were anxious about publican licences. Could the
Chancellor of the Exchequer say a word on the matter? Notice had of
course been given, and the questioner had stated a quarter of an hour
previously that he would postpone his query till the Chancellor of
the Exchequer was in the House.

Sir Timothy rose from his seat, and in his blandest manner began by
apologising for his late appearance. He was sorry that he had been
prevented by public business from being in his place to answer the
honourable gentleman's question in its proper turn. And even now,
he feared that he must decline to give any answer which could be
supposed to be satisfactory. It would probably be his duty to make a
statement to the House on the following day,--a statement which he
was not quite prepared to make at the present moment. But in the
existing state of things he was unwilling to make any reply to
any question by which he might seem to bind the government to any
opinion. Then he sat down. And rising again not long afterwards, when
the House had gone through certain formal duties, he moved that it
should be adjourned till the next day. Then all the members trooped
out, and with the others Tregear and Lord Silverbridge. "So that is
the end of your first day of Parliament," said Silverbridge.

"What does it all mean?"

"Let us go to the Carlton and hear what the fellows are saying."

On that evening both the young men dined at Mr. Boncassen's house.
Though Tregear had been cautioned not to write to Lady Mary,
and though he was not to see her before Easter, still it was so
completely understood that he was about to become her husband, that
he was entertained in that capacity by all those who were concerned
in the family. "And so they will all go out," said Mr. Boncassen.

"That seems to be the general idea," said the expectant son-in-law.
"When two men want to be first and neither will give way, they can't
very well get on in the same boat together." Then he expatiated
angrily on the treachery of Sir Timothy, and Tregear in a more
moderate way joined in the same opinion.

"Upon my word, young men, I doubt whether you are right," said Mr.
Boncassen. "Whether it can be po