offer me anything."

"After making you give up your place in Ireland?"

"They didn't make me give it up. I should never dream of using such
an argument to any one. Of course I had to judge for myself. There is
nothing to be said about it;--only it is so." As he told her this he
strove to look light-hearted, and so to speak that she should not see
the depth of his disappointment;--but he failed altogether. She knew
him too well not to read his whole heart in the matter.

"Who has said it?" she asked.

"Nobody says things of that kind, and yet one knows."

"And why is it?"

"How can I say? There are various reasons,--and, perhaps, very good
reasons. What I did before makes men think that they can't depend on
me. At any rate it is so."

"Shall you not speak to Mr. Gresham?"

"Certainly not."

"What do you say, Papa?"

"How can I understand it, my dear? There used to be a kind of honour
in these things, but that's all old-fashioned now. Ministers used to
think of their political friends; but in these days they only regard
their political enemies. If you can make a Minister afraid of you,
then it becomes worth his while to buy you up. Most of the young
men rise now by making themselves thoroughly disagreeable. Abuse a
Minister every night for half a session, and you may be sure to be in
office the other half,--if you care about it."

"May I speak to Barrington Erle?" asked Lady Laura.

"I had rather you did not. Of course I must take it as it comes."

"But, my dear Mr. Finn, people do make efforts in such cases. I don't
doubt but that at this moment there are a dozen men moving heaven and
earth to secure something. No one has more friends than you have."

Had not her father been present he would have told her what his
friends were doing for him, and how unhappy such interferences made
him; but he could not explain all this before the Earl. "I would so
much rather hear about yourself," he said, again smiling.

"There is but little to say about us. I suppose Papa has told you?"

But the Earl had told him nothing, and indeed, there was nothing to
tell. The lawyer had advised that Mr. Kennedy's friends should be
informed that Lady Laura now intended to live in England, and that
they should be invited to make to her some statement as to Mr.
Kennedy's condition. If necessary he, on her behalf, would justify
her departure from her husband's roof by a reference to the
outrageous conduct of which Mr. Kennedy had s