othing beyond the barren honor of a
'Gazette.' On the day week that her Ladyship's name had so appeared she
would be married."

"It does not alter the matter in the least. It is not in my province to
make such a recommendation, and I refuse it flatly."

"I am sorry for it, my Lord. Your Lordship's refusal may inflict
great evils upon the country,--the rule of an incompetent and ungenial
Government,--the accession to power of men the most unscrupulous and
reckless.". "Cannot you see, sir," said the Minister, sharply, "that I
am in a position to comprehend what my office admits of, and where its
limits are laid? I have told you that these appointments are not in our
hands."

"Sir Robert Peel did not say so, my Lord; he insisted--actually
insisted--on his right to surround the throne with political partisans."

"The Cabinet is not an Equity Court, to be ruled by precedents; and I
tell you once more, Dunn, I should fail if I attempted it."

"The Viscountess might obtain this favor," said Dunn, with an obdurate
persistence that was not to be resisted; "and even if unsuccessful, it
would inflict no rebuff on your Lordship. Indeed, it would come more
gracefully as a proposition from her Ladyship, who could also mention
Lady Augusta's approaching marriage."

"I almost think I might leave you to finish the discussion with my
wife," said his Lordship, laughing; "I half suspect it would be the best
penalty on your temerity. Are you engaged for Sunday?--well, then, dine
with us. And now, that bill being adjourned," said he, with a weary
sigh, "what next?"

"I am now coming to myself,--to my own case, my Lord," said Dunn, with
the very slightest tremor in his voice. "Need I say that I wish it were
in the hands of any other advocacy? I am so far fortunate, however,
that I address one fully conversant with my claims on his party.
For five-and-twenty years I have been the careful guardian of their
interests in a country where, except in mere name, they never possessed
any real popularity. Your Lordship smiles a dissent; may I enter upon
the question?"

"Heaven forbid!" broke in the Minister, smiling good-humoredly.

"Well, my Lord, were I to reduce my services to a mere monetary
estimate, and furnish you with a bill of costs, for what a goodly sum
should I stand in the estimates. I have mainly sustained the charge of
seven county elections, hardly contested. I have paid the entire charges
on twenty-two borough contests. I ha