tion was forgotten, that could
guide Julius safely through the miry political ways which he had trodden
so safely and so dextrously himself. An hour more had passed before the
impenetrable old man closed his weary eyes, and consented to take his
nourishment and compose himself to rest. His last words, rendered barely
articulate by exhaustion, still sang the praises of party manoeuvres
and political strife. "It's a grand career! I miss the House of Commons,
Julius, as I miss nothing else!"

Left free to pursue his own thoughts, and to guide his own movements,
Julius went straight from Lord Holchester's bedside to Lady Holchester's
boudoir.

"Has your father said any thing about Geoffrey?" was his mother's first
question as soon as he entered the room.

"My father gives Geoffrey a last chance, if Geoffrey will only take it."

Lady Holchester's face clouded. "I know," she said, with a look of
disappointment. "His last chance is to read for his degree. Hopeless,
my dear. Quite hopeless! If it had only been something easier than that;
something that rested with me--"

"It does rest with you," interposed Julius. "My dear mother!--can you
believe it?--Geoffrey's last chance is (in one word) Marriage!"

"Oh, Julius! it's too good to be true!"

Julius repeated his father's own words. Lady Holchester looked twenty
years younger as she listened. When he had done she rang the bell.

"No matter who calls," she said to the servant, "I am not at home." She
turned to Julius, kissed him, and made a place for him on the sofa by
her side. "Geoffrey shall take _that_ chance," she said, gayly--"I will
answer for it! I have three women in my mind, any one of whom would suit
him. Sit down, my dear, and let us consider carefully which of the three
will be most likely to attract Geoffrey, and to come up to your father's
standard of what his daughter-in-law ought to be. When we have decided,
don't trust to writing. Go yourself and see Geoffrey at his hotel."

Mother and son entered on their consultation--and innocently sowed the
seeds of a terrible harvest to come.

CHAPTER THE SIXTEENTH.

GEOFFREY AS A PUBLIC CHARACTER.

TIME had advanced to after noon before the selection of Geoffrey's
future wife was accomplished, and before the instructions of Geoffrey's
brother were complete enough to justify the opening of the matrimonial
negotiation at Nagle's Hotel.

"Don't leave him till you have got his promise," were Lady Holchester's