es! And it was so momentous to the
fortunes of the Palliser family generally that he should marry well!
In thinking so it did not occur to him that the granddaughter of an
American labourer might be offered to him. A young lady fit to be
Duchess of Omnium was not to be found everywhere. But this girl,
he thought as he saw her walking briskly and strongly through the
snow, with every mark of health about her, with every sign of high
breeding, very beautiful, exquisite in manner, gracious as a goddess,
was fit to be a Duchess! Silverbridge at this moment was walking
close to her side,--in good looks, in gracious manner, in high
breeding her equal,--in worldly gifts infinitely her superior. Surely
she would not despise him! Silverbridge at the moment was expressing
a hope that the sermon would not be very long.

After lunch Mabel came suddenly behind the chair on which
Silverbridge was sitting and asked him to take a walk with her. Was
she not afraid of the snow? "Perhaps you are," she said laughing. "I
do not mind it in the least." When they were but a few yards from the
front door, she put her hand upon his arm, and spoke to him as though
she had arranged the walk with reference to that special question,
"And now tell me all about Frank."

She had arranged everything. She had a plan before her now, and had
determined in accordance with that plan that she would say nothing to
disturb him on this occasion. If she could succeed in bringing him
into good humour with herself, that should be sufficient for to-day.
"Now tell me everything about Frank."

"Frank is member of Parliament for Polpenno. That is all."

"That is so like a man and so unlike a woman. What did he say? What
did he do? How did he look? What did you say? What did you do? How
did you look?"

"We looked very miserable, when we got wet through, walking about all
day in the rain."

"Was that necessary?"

"Quite necessary. We looked so mean and draggled that nobody would
have voted for us, only that poor Mr. Carbottle looked meaner and
more draggled."

"The Duke says you made ever so many speeches."

"I should think I did. It is very easy to make speeches down at a
place like that. Tregear spoke like a book."

"He spoke well?"

"Awfully well. He told them that all the good things that had ever
been done in Parliament had been carried by the Tories. He went back
to Pitt's time, and had it all at his fingers' ends."

"And quite true."

"That's ju