of the pain she had given, and the love she had rejected. In the one
case she was perfectly certain that she had done right, in this she was
not by any means so clear. As she heard her cousin restlessly pacing up
and down the library, she felt tempted to go to him and say she would
share his fortunes, and even destroy them for him if he wished it. She
looked at the mirror, and wondered at her being able to excite such an
attachment; she looked into her own soul, and did not see anything in
it to warrant a man in giving her such a power over him. Duty was clear
as to the dismissal of William Dalzell, and the result had proved that
she was in the right; and now, when duty was so terribly difficult,
surely time, that tardy, but certain adjuster of life's inequalities,
would justify her both to Francis and herself. William Dalzell's love
had appeared to evaporate; but Francis' had grown more intense and
passionate till she felt she could scarcely look at him.

But it was true that she had admired his speeches, and that she was
ambitious for his success in all his plans. Every one who knew anything
about the subject said that Francis Hogarth was the most promising
young man who had entered the walls of parliament at this recent
general election. He had given great attention to public business; he
had mastered the details with ease; and the principles seemed to be
intuitive with him.

He had become acquainted with a small band of outsiders like himself,
men of independence and originality, who kept aloof from party, but
whose votes were of importance to both parties, and whose approbation
was of far more value than that of the strongest partizan. No one could
tell to what height he might not rise from such a beginning; the
ministry had noticed him favourably, and he was as likely as not to be
offered office before the parliament had expired.

Mr. Sinclair had told her how his hopes rested on the new member for
the burghs, and how many public matters and reforms they talked over
together with constant reference to first principles.

Jane was proud of the conquest she had made, and proud of her influence
over a man so able, and so upright; but now she felt it was dangerous
to see too much of him, and his parliamentary life had brought him into
far more frequent contact with her now than ever before. She had led
him so far in the right direction, but now she feared for her own
resolution; she knew she could not withstand man