ertainly did not expect it. The Duchess of Omnium wrote to her.
The Duchess, though she had lately been considerably restrained by
the condition of the Duke's mind, and by the effects of her own
political and social mistakes, still from time to time made renewed
efforts to keep together the Coalition by giving dinners, balls, and
garden parties, and by binding to herself the gratitude and worship
of young parliamentary aspirants. In carrying out her plans, she had
lately showered her courtesies upon Arthur Fletcher, who had been
made welcome even by the Duke as the sitting member for Silverbridge.
With Arthur she had of course discussed the conduct of Lopez as
to the election bills, and had been very loud in condemning him.
And from Arthur also she had heard something of the sorrows of
Emily Lopez. Arthur had been very desirous that the Duchess, who
had received them both at her house, should distinguish between
the husband and the wife. Then had come the tragedy, to which the
notoriety of the man's conduct of course gave additional interest. It
was believed that Lopez had destroyed himself because of the disgrace
which had fallen upon him from the Silverbridge affair. And for much
of that Silverbridge affair the Duchess herself was responsible.
She waited till a couple of months had gone by, and then, in the
beginning of May, sent to the widow what was intended to be, and
indeed was, a very kind note. The Duchess had heard the sad story
with the greatest grief. She hoped that Mrs. Lopez would permit her
to avail herself of a short acquaintance to express her sincere
sympathy. She would not venture to call as yet, but hoped that before
long she might be allowed to come to Manchester Square.

This note touched the poor woman to whom it was written, not because
she herself was solicitous to be acquainted with the Duchess of
Omnium, but because the application seemed to her to contain
something like an acquittal, or at any rate a pardon, of her husband.
His sin in that measure of the Silverbridge election,--a sin which
her father had been loud in denouncing before the wretch had
destroyed himself,--had been especially against the Duke of Omnium.
And now the Duchess came forward to say that it should be forgiven
and forgotten. When she showed the letter to her father, and asked
him what she should say in answer to it, he only shook his head. "It
is meant for kindness, papa."

"Yes;--I think it is. There are people who hav