too ill at ease to admit of
political matters. He was greatly grieved by this new misfortune as
to Gerald, and by Lord Silverbridge's propensity to racing.

But though these sorrows were heavy, there was a sorrow heavier than
these. Lady Cantrip had expressed an opinion almost in favour of
Tregear--and had certainly expressed an opinion in favour of Mrs.
Finn. The whole affair in regard to Mrs. Finn had been explained to
her, and she had told the Duke that, according to her thinking, Mrs.
Finn had behaved well! When the Duke, with an energy which was by no
means customary with him, had asked that question, on the answer to
which so much depended, "Should there have been a moment lost?" Lady
Cantrip had assured him that not a moment had been lost. Mrs. Finn
had at once gone to work, and had arranged that the whole affair
should be told to him, the Duke, in the proper way. "I think she
did," said Lady Cantrip, "what I myself should have done in similar
circumstances."

If Lady Cantrip was right, then must his apology to Mrs. Finn be
ample and abject. Perhaps it was this feeling which at the moment was
most vexatious to him.

CHAPTER XIX

"No; My Lord, I Do Not"

Between two and three o'clock Lord Silverbridge, in spite of his
sorrow, found himself able to eat his lunch at his club. The place
was deserted, the Beargarden world having gone to the races. As he
sat eating cold lamb and drinking soda-and-brandy he did confirm
himself in certain modified resolutions, which might be more probably
kept than those sterner laws of absolute renunciation to which he had
thought of pledging himself in his half-starved morning condition.
His father had spoken in very strong language against racing,--saying
that those who went were either fools or rascals. He was sure that
this was exaggerated. Half the House of Lords and two-thirds of the
House of Commons were to be seen at the Derby; but no doubt there
were many rascals and fools, and he could not associate with the
legislators without finding himself among the fools and rascals. He
would,--as soon as he could,--separate himself from the Major. And
he would not bet. It was on that side of the sport that the rascals
and the fools showed themselves. Of what service could betting be
to him whom Providence had provided with all things wanted to make
life pleasant? As to the drag, his father had in a certain measure
approved of that, and he would keep the drag, as he must ha