e has been the prudence. My wonder
is, that I have not incurred more contempt from others because I have
been a coward. People have been so kind to me that I must suppose
them to have judged me more leniently than I have judged myself."
Then, as he was putting up the paper, he looked again at his own
speech, and of course read every word of it once more. As he did so
it occurred to him that the reporters had been more than courteous to
him. The man who had followed him had been, he thought, at any rate
as long-winded as himself; but to this orator less than half a column
had been granted. To him had been granted ten lines in big type, and
after that a whole column and a half. Let Lord Chiltern come and do
his worst!

When it wanted but twenty minutes to one, and he was beginning to
think in what way he had better answer the half-mad lord, should the
lord in his wrath be very mad, there came to him a note by the hand
of some messenger. He knew at once that it was from Lady Laura, and
opened it in hot haste It was as follows:--

DEAR MR. FINN,

We are all talking about your speech. My father was in
the gallery and heard it,--and said that he had to thank
me for sending you to Loughton. That made me very happy.
Mr. Kennedy declares that you were eloquent, but too
short. That coming from him is praise indeed. I have seen
Barrington, who takes pride to himself that you are his
political child. Violet says that it is the only speech
she ever read. I was there, and was delighted. I was sure
that it was in you to do it.

Yours, L. K.

I suppose we shall see you after the House is up, but
I write this as I shall barely have an opportunity of
speaking to you then. I shall be in Portman Square, not
at home, from six till seven.

The moment in which Phineas refolded this note and put it into his
breast coat-pocket was, I think, the happiest of his life. Then,
before he had withdrawn his hand from his breast, he remembered that
what was now about to take place between him and Lord Chiltern would
probably be the means of separating him altogether from Lady Laura
and her family. Nay, might it not render it necessary that he should
abandon the seat in Parliament which had been conferred upon him by
the personal kindness of Lord Brentford? Let that be as it might. One
thing was clear to him. He would not abandon Violet Effingham till
he should be desired to do so in the plainest