next general election? Sir
Sampson French, who is too old to again take office, will, I am certain,
retire in your favour, if you will only come forward as a candidate; you
have plenty of friends and admirers in and around Vellenaux to ensure
your return if properly canvassed. A man of your ability and standing in
society cannot afford to remain idle at such a time, though he may have
a rich wife to back him."

"I should like to get into Parliament above all things, and certainly
shall endeavour so to do, providing Edith gives her consent, and the
good folks of the county will give me their support," was Arthur's reply
as the lady of his love made her appearance equipped for the ride.

It had been the intention of the Bartons, to return to Devonshire
immediately after, the ball in Berkly Square, but the sudden appearance
of Captain Carlton with the startling announcement of the accidental
death of Sir Ralph Coleman and the disclosures made by the unhappy man
ere he breathed his last, caused them to put off their intended
departure for some weeks, until matters were _en train_ for establishing
the validity of Edith's claim to the estate of her late uncle.

Aunt Cotterell and her good humored husband had, without the knowledge of
any of their friends, built a handsome house on the bank of the brook
which ran between Tom Bartons and the rectory; besides this, Mrs.
Ashburnham had confidently whispered to Cousin Kate that her dear
William was about to give up his practice which, for the last fifteen
years, he had labored at so assiduously and successfully, and that he
was now actually arranging for the purchase of that very pretty villa
and grounds just beyond the Willows, as its owner, Sir Edmund Wildacres
had, by racing and other gambling proclivities, managed to run through
and overdraw his cash account at his bankers, so that his landed
property had to come to the hammer, and, the young spendthrift was about
to retire to some cheap Continental watering place until some of his
antiquated relatives should be condescending enough to shuffle off this
mortal coil and resign their purses and property to his careful
control. And with Edith and Arthur settled at Vellenaux, there would be
formed at once a happy circle, bound together by ties of family
affection and disinterested friendship, and with such supporters as
these to canvass his cause, Arthur's return, as County member, might be
looked upon as amounting almost to a ce