hat Phineas would come back, declaring that he had known no
instance of a young man who had made himself useful in Parliament,
and then had been allowed to leave it in early life.

Among those of whom he was bound to take a special leave, the members
of the family of Lord Brentford were, of course, the foremost. He
had already heard of the reconciliation of Miss Effingham and Lord
Chiltern, and was anxious to offer his congratulation to both of
them. And it was essential to him that he should see Lady Laura. To
her he wrote a line, saying how much he hoped that he should be able
to bid her adieu, and a time was fixed for his coming at which she
knew that she would meet him alone. But, as chance ruled it, he came
upon the two lovers together, and then remembered that he had hardly
ever before been in the same room with both of them at the same time.

"Oh, Mr. Finn, what a beautiful speech you made. I read every word of
it," said Violet.

"And I didn't even look at it, old fellow," said Chiltern, getting up
and putting his arm on the other's shoulder in a way that was common
with him when he was quite intimate with the friend near him.

"Laura went down and heard it," said Violet. "I could not do that,
because I was tied to my aunt. You can't conceive how dutiful I am
during this last month."

"And is it to be in a month, Chiltern?" said Phineas.

"She says so. She arranges everything,--in concert with my father.
When I threw up the sponge, I simply asked for a long day. 'A long
day, my lord,' I said. But my father and Violet between them refused
me any mercy."

"You do not believe him," said Violet.

"Not a word. If I did he would want to see me on the coast of
Flanders again, I don't doubt. I have come to congratulate you both."

"Thank you, Mr. Finn," said Violet, taking his hand with hearty
kindness. "I should not have been quite happy without one nice word
from you."

"I shall try and make the best of it," said Chiltern. "But, I say,
you'll come over and ride Bonebreaker again. He's down there at
the Bull, and I've taken a little box close by. I can't stand the
governor's county for hunting."

"And will your wife go down to Willingford?"

"Of course she will, and ride to hounds a great deal closer than I
can ever do. Mind you come, and if there's anything in the stable fit
to carry you, you shall have it."

Then Phineas had to explain that he had come to bid them farewell,
and that it was not at all