April, and as the arrangement of
the new Cabinet, with its inferior offices, was not completed till
the 6th 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 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 at 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 lovers 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 all 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.

He had been allowed to see Lady Mary in London, but hardly to do more
than see her. With her he had been alone for about five minutes, and
then cruel circumstances,--circumstances, however, which were not
permanently cruel,--had separated them. All their great difficulties
had been settled, and no doubt they were happy. Tregear, though
he had been as it were received into grace by that glass of wine,
still had not entered into the intimacies of the house. This he felt
himself. He had been told that he had better restrain himself from
writing to Mary, and he had restrained himself. He had therefore no
immediate opportunity of creeping into