tinctly to his disadvantage--and, in
_that_ case, you must take your chance of being dealt with as a
calumniator or a sycophant; all depends on Lady Ogram's mood of the
moment. Detesting Mr. Robb, she naturally aims at ousting him from his
Parliamentary seat, and no news could be more acceptable to her than
that of a possible change in the political temper of Hollingford. The
town is Tory, from of old. Mr. Robb is sitting in his second
Parliament, and doubtless hopes to enter a third. But he is nearly
seventy years old, and we hear that his constituents would not be sorry
if he gave place to a more active man. The hope that Hollingford may
turn Liberal does not seem to me to be very well founded, and yet I
don't regard the thing as an impossibility. Lady Ogram has persuaded
herself that a thoroughly good man might carry the seat. That man she
is continually seeking, and she carries on a correspondence on the
subject with party leaders, whips, caucus directors, and all manner of
such folk. If she lives until the next general election, heaven and
earth will be moved against Mr. Robb, and I believe she would give the
half of her substance to anyone who defeated him."

This epistle caused a commotion in Lashmar's mind. The last paragraph
opened before him a vista of brilliant imaginings. He read it times
innumerable; day and night he could think of nothing else. Was not here
the occasion for which he had been waiting? Had not fortune turned a
shining face upon him?

If only he had still been in enjoyment of his three hundred a year.
There, indeed, was a troublesome reflection. He thought of writing to
his father, of laying before him the facts of his position, and asking
seriously whether some financial arrangement could not be made, which
would render him independent for a year or two. Another thought
occurred to him--but he did not care to dwell upon it for the present.
Twenty-four hours' consideration decided him to go down to Hollingford
without delay. When he had talked with Lady Ogram, he would be in a
better position for making up his mind as to the practical difficulty
which beset him.

He esteemed it very friendly on Connie Bride's part to have written
such a letter of advice. Why had she taken the trouble? Notwithstanding
the coldness of her language, Connie plainly had his interests at
heart, and gave no little thought to him. This was agreeable, but no
matter of surprise; it never surprised Lashmar that anyon