ch quivers at her fingers' ends, a longing
to look at him which she cannot keep out of her eyes, an inclination
to be near him which affects every motion of her body. She cannot
refrain herself from excessive attention to his words. She has a god
to worship, and she cannot control her admiration. Of all this Emily
herself felt much,--but felt at the same time that she would never
pardon herself if she betrayed her love by a gleam of her eye, by
the tone of a word, or the movement of a finger. What,--should she
be known to love again after such a mistake as hers, after such a
catastrophe?

The evening before they started who should bustle into the house but
Everett himself. It was then about six o'clock, and he was going to
leave London by the night mail. That he should be a little given
to bustle on such an occasion may perhaps be forgiven him. He
had heard the news down on the Scotch coast, and had flown up to
London, telegraphing as he did so backwards and forwards to Wharton.
Of course he felt that the destruction of his cousin among the
glaciers,--whether by brandy or ice he did not much care,--had made
him for the nonce one of the important people of the world. The young
man who would not so feel might be the better philosopher, but one
might doubt whether he would be the better young man. He quite agreed
with his father that it was his sister's duty to go to Wharton, and
he was now in a position to speak with authority as to the duties of
members of his family. He could not wait, even for one night, in
order that he might travel with them. Sir Alured was impatient. Sir
Alured wanted him in Herefordshire. Sir Alured had said that on
such an occasion he, the heir, ought to be on the property with the
shortest possible delay. His father smiled;--but with an approving
smile. Everett therefore started by the night mail, leaving his
father and sister to follow him on the morrow.

CHAPTER LXVIII

The Prime Minister's Political Creed

The Duke, before he went to Matching, twice reminded Phineas Finn
that he was expected there in a day or two. "The Duchess says that
your wife is coming to-morrow," the Duke said on the day of his
departure. But Phineas could not go then. His services to his country
were required among the dockyards and ships, and he postponed his
visit till the end of September. Then he started for Matching, having
the double pleasure before him of meeting his wife and his noble host
and hoste