om a
life's disappointment."

"I should have said that indulgence in regrets is vain."

"That is a scrap of philosophy which I have heard so often before!
But we will not quarrel, will we, on the first day of my return?"

"I hope not."

"And I may speak to Barrington?"

"No; certainly not."

"But I shall. How can I help it? He will be here to-morrow, and will
be full of the coming changes. How should I not mention your name? He
knows--not all that has passed, but too much not to be aware of my
anxiety. Of course your name will come up?"

"What I request,--what I demand is, that you ask no favour for me.
Your father will miss you,--will he not? I had better go now."

"Good night, Phineas."

"Good night, dear friend."

"Dearest, dearest friend," she said. Then he left her, and without
assistance, let himself out into the square. In her intercourse with
him there was a passion the expression of which caused him sorrow and
almost dismay. He did not say so even to himself, but he felt that a
time might come in which she would resent the coldness of demeanour
which it would be imperative upon him to adopt in his intercourse
with her. He knew how imprudent he had been to stand there with his
arm round her waist.

CHAPTER XXXIX

Cagliostro

It had been settled that Parliament should meet on the Thursday in
Easter week, and it was known to the world at large that Cabinet
Councils were held on the Friday previous, on the Monday, and on the
Tuesday; but nobody knew what took place at those meetings. Cabinet
Councils are, of course, very secret. What kind of oath the members
take not to divulge any tittle of the proceedings at these awful
conferences, the general public does not know; but it is presumed
that oaths are taken very solemn, and it is known that they are very
binding. Nevertheless, it is not an uncommon thing to hear openly
at the clubs an account of what has been settled; and, as we all
know, not a council is held as to which the editor of _The People's
Banner_ does not inform its readers next day exactly what took
place. But as to these three Cabinet Councils there was an increased
mystery abroad. Statements, indeed, were made, very definite and
circumstantial, but then they were various,--and directly opposed
one to another. According to _The People's Banner_, Mr. Daubeny
had resolved, with that enduring courage which was his peculiar
characteristic, that he would not be overcome by faction