button."

To this assertion Leopold Travers replied warmly, and was not less
warmly backed by Mrs. Campion.

"For my part," said Lady Glenalvon, in conciliatory accents, "I think
every able man in Parliament is a gain to the country; and he may not
serve his country less effectively because he does not boast of his
love for it. The politicians I dread most are those so rampant in France
nowadays, the bawling patriots. When Sir Robert Walpole said, 'All
those men have their price,' he pointed to the men who called themselves
'patriots.'"

"Bravo!" cried Travers.

"Sir Robert Walpole showed his love for his country by corrupting it.
There are many ways besides bribing for corrupting a country," said
Kenelm, mildly, and that was Kenelm's sole contribution to the general
conversation.

It was not till the rest of the party had retired to rest that the
conference, longed for by Kenelm, dreaded by Sir Peter, took place in
the library. It lasted deep into the night; both parted with lightened
hearts and a fonder affection for each other. Kenelm had drawn so
charming a picture of the Fairy, and so thoroughly convinced Sir Peter
that his own feelings towards her were those of no passing youthful
fancy, but of that love which has its roots in the innermost heart,
that though it was still with a sigh, a deep sigh, that he dismissed
the thought of Cecilia, Sir Peter did dismiss it; and, taking comfort at
last from the positive assurance that Lily was of gentle birth, and
the fact that her name of Mordaunt was that of ancient and illustrious
houses, said, with half a smile, "It might have been worse, my dear
boy. I began to be afraid that, in spite of the teachings of Mivers and
Welby, it was 'The Miller's Daughter,' after all. But we still have
a difficult task to persuade your poor mother. In covering your first
flight from our roof I unluckily put into her head the notion of Lady
Jane, a duke's daughter, and the notion has never got out of it. That
comes of fibbing."

"I count on Lady Glenalvon's influence on my mother in support of
your own," said Kenelm. "If so accepted an oracle in the great world
pronounce in my favour, and promise to present my wife at Court and
bring her into fashion, I think that my mother will consent to allow us
to reset the old family diamonds for her next reappearance in London.
And then, too, you can tell her that I will stand for the county. I will
go into Parliament, and if I meet there our