o say to her? How was he to commence a
conversation that should end by being tender? She was very handsome
certainly, and for him she could look interesting; but for his very
life he did not know how to begin to say anything special to her. A
liaison with such a woman as Lady Dumbello,--platonic, innocent, but
nevertheless very intimate,--would certainly lend a grace to his
life, which, under its present circumstances, was rather dry. He
was told,--told by public rumour, which had reached him through his
uncle,--that the lady was willing. She certainly looked as though she
liked him; but how was he to begin? The art of startling the House of
Commons and frightening the British public by the voluminous accuracy
of his statistics he had already learned; but what was he to say to a
pretty woman?

"You'll be sure to be in London in April?" This was on another
occasion.

"Oh, yes; I think so."

"In Carlton Gardens, I suppose."

"Yes; Lord Dumbello has got a lease of the house now."

"Has he, indeed? Ah, it's an excellent house. I hope I shall be
allowed to call there sometimes."

"Certainly,--only I know you must be so busy."

"Not on Saturdays and Sundays."

"I always receive on Sundays," said Lady Dumbello. Mr Palliser felt
that there was nothing peculiarly gracious in this. A permission to
call when all her other acquaintances would be there, was not much;
but still, perhaps, it was as much as he could expect to obtain on
that occasion. He looked up and saw that Lord Dumbello's eyes were
again upon him, and that Lord Dumbello's brow was black. He began
to doubt whether a country house, where all the people were thrown
together, was the best place in the world for such manoeuvring.
Lady Dumbello was very handsome, and he liked to look at her, but
he could not find any subject on which to interest her in that
drawing-room at Hartlebury. Later in the evening he found himself
saying something to her about the sugar duties, and then he knew that
he had better give it up. He had only one day more, and that was
required imperatively for his speech. The matter would go much
easier in London, and he would postpone it till then. In the crowded
rooms of London private conversation would be much easier, and Lord
Dumbello wouldn't stand over and look at him. Lady Dumbello had
taken his remarks about the sugar very kindly, and had asked for a
definition of an ad valorem duty. It was a nearer approach to a real
conversation