ur thousand pounds.

"If I could get a message to him and stop it all," he muttered, as he
watched Jane rapidly clear the table of the tardy breakfast things.

"Yes, my love, Parliament must be the goal of your ambition," said Lady
Lisle, with her eyes brightening, as soon as they were alone. "If I had
been a man how I should have gloried in addressing the House!"

"Ah! there's a deal of talk goes on there, my dear," replied Sir Hilton.

"And what talk, Hilton! What a study! The proper study of mankind is
man. How much better than devoting all your attention to dogs and
horses!"

"`How noble a beast is the horse,' dear, it said in my first
reading-book."

"Absurd, my love. Pray don't think of horses any more."

Sir Hilton winced, and then watched his lady as she moved in a dignified
way to the fireplace to rearrange her headgear.

"Going out again, my dear?" said Sir Hilton, for want of something
better to say.

"Yes, love. I have ordered the carriage round, to drive over to Hanby."

"To Hanby, dear?"

"Yes. Mr Browse drove by while I was at the vicarage," said the lady,
in a tone of disgust. "That man is in arrear with his rent for the
farm. The vicar said he supposed the man was going to the races, and I
am going over to see his wife."

"For goodness' sake, don't go and interfere, my dear," cried Sir Hilton,
anxiously. "It would get talked about so at the Tilborough Market, and
spread in all directions."

"It would not matter, that I see," said her ladyship, haughtily. "But I
was not going to interfere. I might, perhaps, say a word or two of
condolence to poor Mrs Browse, and point out how much happier she would
be if her husband followed the example of mine."

"But, hang it all, Laura, he can't try to enter into Parliament!"

"No, my love, but he could give up horse-racing."

"Surely you are not going over there--to drive all those miles--to say
that?"

"No, my love, only to help carry on your election contest, and be in
time. Mr Browse is in my--our debt, according to Mr Trimmer's figures,
for a whole year's rental of the farm."

"But you mustn't go and dun people."

"Dun, Hilton?"

"Well, collect rents. Leave that to Trimmer."

"Of course I shall, my dear," said her ladyship, with a condescending
smile. "I am going over to name that circumstance of their indebtedness
to me--us, and to tell her that I shall expect Mr Browse to vote for
you. She will compel her husband to do