him."

"Were I you I should do so,--not to oblige him, but because I know
him to be an honest man."

"I care but little for honesty," said Phineas, "which is at the
disposal of those who are dishonest. What am I to think of a Minister
who could allow himself to be led by Mr. Bonteen?"

CHAPTER LXXVIII

The Last Visit to Saulsby

Phineas, as he journeyed down to Saulsby, knew that he had in truth
made up his mind. He was going thither nominally that he might
listen to the advice of almost his oldest political friend before he
resolved on a matter of vital importance to himself; but in truth he
was making the visit because he felt that he could not excuse himself
from it without unkindness and ingratitude. She had implored him to
come, and he was bound to go, and there were tidings to be told which
he must tell. It was not only that he might give her his reasons for
not becoming an Under-Secretary of State that he went to Saulsby.
He felt himself bound to inform her that he intended to ask Marie
Goesler to be his wife. He might omit to do so till he had asked
the question,--and then say nothing of what he had done should
his petition be refused; but it seemed to him that there would be
cowardice in this. He was bound to treat Lady Laura as his friend
in a special degree, as something more than his sister,--and he was
bound above all things to make her understand in some plainest manner
that she could be nothing more to him than such a friend. In his
dealings with her he had endeavoured always to be honest,--gentle as
well as honest; but now it was specially his duty to be honest to
her. When he was young he had loved her, and had told her so,--and
she had refused him. As a friend he had been true to her ever since,
but that offer could never be repeated. And the other offer,--to the
woman whom she was now accustomed to abuse,--must be made. Should
Lady Laura choose to quarrel with him it must be so; but the quarrel
should not be of his seeking.

He was quite sure that he would refuse Mr. Gresham's offer, although
by doing so he would himself throw away the very thing which he had
devoted his life to acquire. In a foolish, soft moment,--as he now
confessed to himself,--he had endeavoured to obtain for his own
position the sympathy of the Minister. He had spoken of the calumnies
which had hurt him, and of his sufferings when he found himself
excluded from place in consequence of the evil stories which had