nd the
pursuit is open to me as to any other man who may choose to follow
it. I have hardly a vestige of a hope of success. It is barely
possible that I should succeed. But if it be true that Miss Effingham
be disengaged, I shall endeavour to find an opportunity of urging my
suit. I would give up everything that I have, my seat in Parliament,
all the ambition of my life, for the barest chance of success. When
she had accepted your son, I desisted,--of course. I have now heard,
from more sources than one, that she or he or both of them have
changed their minds. If this be so, I am free to try again." The
Earl stood opposite to him, scowling at him, but said nothing. "Good
morning, my lord."

"Good morning, sir."

"I am afraid it must be good-bye, for some long days to come."

"Good morning, sir," And the Earl as he spoke rang the bell. Then
Phineas took up his hat and departed.

As he walked away his mind filled itself gradually with various
ideas, all springing from the words which Lord Brentford had spoken.
What account had Lord Chiltern given to his father of the duel? Our
hero was a man very sensitive as to the good opinion of others, and
in spite of his bold assertion of his own knowledge of what became
a gentleman, was beyond measure solicitous that others should
acknowledge his claim at any rate to that title. He thought that he
had been generous to Lord Chiltern; and as he went back in his memory
over almost every word that had been spoken in the interview that had
just passed, he fancied that he was able to collect evidence that his
antagonist at Blankenberg had not spoken ill of him. As to the charge
of deceit which the Earl had made against him, he told himself that
the Earl had made it in anger. He would not even think hardly of the
Earl who had been so good a friend to him, but he believed in his
heart that the Earl had made the accusation out of his wrath and not
out of his judgment. "He cannot think that I have been false to him,"
Phineas said to himself. But it was very sad to him that he should
have to quarrel with all the family of the Standishes, as he could
not but feel that it was they who had put him on his feet. It seemed
as though he were never to see Lady Laura again except when they
chanced to meet in company,--on which occasions he simply bowed to
her. Now the Earl had almost turned him out of his house. And though
there had been to a certain extent a reconciliation between him and
Lord C