."

"Is it true that Grogram is to be Chancellor?" Phineas asked the
question, not from any particular solicitude as to the prospects
of Sir Gregory Grogram, but because he was anxious to hear whether
Mr. Ratler would speak to him with anything of the cordiality of
fellowship respecting the new Government. But Mr. Ratler became at
once discreet and close, and said that he did not think that anything
as yet was known as to the Woolsack. Then Phineas retreated again
within his shell, with a certainty that nothing would be done for
him.

And yet to whom could this question of place be of such vital
importance as it was to him? He had come back to his old haunts from
Ireland, abandoning altogether the pleasant safety of an assured
income, buoyed by the hope of office. He had, after a fashion, made
his calculations. In the present disposition of the country it was,
he thought, certain that the Liberal party must, for the next twenty
years, have longer periods of power than their opponents; and he had
thought also that were he in the House, some place would eventually
be given to him. He had been in office before, and had been
especially successful. He knew that it had been said of him that of
the young debutants of latter years he had been the best. He had left
his party by opposing them; but he had done so without creating any
ill-will among the leaders of his party,--in a manner that had been
regarded as highly honourable to him, and on departing had received
expressions of deep regret from Mr. Gresham himself. When Barrington
Erle had wanted him to return to his old work, his own chief doubt
had been about the seat. But he had been bold and had adventured all,
and had succeeded. There had been some little trouble about those
pledges given at Tankerville, but he would be able to turn them even
to the use of his party. It was quite true that nothing had been
promised him; but Erle, when he had written, bidding him to come over
from Ireland, must have intended him to understand that he would be
again enrolled in the favoured regiment, should he be able to show
himself as the possessor of a seat in the House. And yet,--yet he
felt convinced that when the day should come it would be to him a
day of disappointment, and that when the list should appear his name
would not be on it. Madame Goesler had suggested to him that Mr.
Bonteen might be his enemy, and he had replied by stating that he
himself hated Mr. Bonteen. He now re