ord to Sir James Thorax,--for
he was getting hoarse, you know,--he only shook his head and turned
on his heels. When he was in the other House, and speaking every
night, he would see Thorax constantly, and do just what he was told.
He used to like opening his mouth and having Sir James to look down
it. But now he won't let any one touch him."

"What would you have me do, Lady Glen?"

"I don't know."

"Do you think that he is so far out of health that he ought to give
it up?"

"I don't say that. I don't dare to say it. I don't dare to recommend
anything. No consideration of health would tell with him at all. If
he were to die to-morrow as the penalty of doing something useful
to-night, he wouldn't think twice about it. If you wanted to make
him stay where he is, the way to do it would be to tell him that his
health was failing him. I don't know that he does want to give up
now."

"The autumn months will do everything for him;--only let him be
quiet."

"You are coming to Matching, Duke?"

"I suppose so,--if you ask me,--for a week or two."

"You must come. I am quite nervous if you desert us. I think he
becomes more estranged every day from all the others. I know you
won't do a mischief by repeating what I say."

"I hope not."

"He seems to me to turn his nose up at everybody. He used to like Mr.
Monk; but he envies Mr. Monk, because Mr. Monk is Chancellor of the
Exchequer. I asked him whether we shouldn't have Lord Drummond at
Matching, and he told me angrily that I might ask all the Government
if I liked."

"Drummond contradicted him the other day."

"I knew there was something. He has got to be like a bear with a sore
head, Duke. You should have seen his face the other day, when Mr.
Rattler made some suggestion to him about the proper way of dividing
farms."

"I don't think he ever liked Rattler."

"What of that? Don't I have to smile upon men whom I hate like
poison;--and women too, which is worse? Do you think that I love old
Lady Ramsden, or Mrs. MacPherson? He used to be so fond of Lord
Cantrip."

"I think he likes Lord Cantrip," said the Duke.

"He asked his lordship to do something, and Lord Cantrip declined."

"I know all about that," said the Duke.

"And now he looks gloomy at Lord Cantrip. His friends won't stand
that kind of thing, you know, for ever."

"He is always courteous to Finn," said the Duke.

"Yes;--just now he is on good terms with Mr. Finn. He would never be
harsh to