XLVII. Miss Boncassen's Idea of Heaven
XLVIII. The Party at Custins Is Broken Up
XLIX. The Major's Fate
L. The Duke's Arguments
LI. The Duke's Guests
LII. Miss Boncassen Tells the Truth
LIII. "Then I Am As Proud As a Queen"
LIV. "I Don't Think She Is a Snake"
LV. Polpenno
LVI. The News Is Sent to Matching
LVII. The Meeting at "The Bobtailed Fox"
LVIII. The Major Is Deposed
LIX. No One Can Tell What May Come to Pass
LX. Lord Gerald in Further Trouble
LXI. "Bone of My Bone"
LXII. The Brake Country
LXIII. "I've Seen 'Em Like That Before"
LXIV. "I Believe Him to Be a Worthy Young Man"
LXV. "Do You Ever Think What Money Is?"
LXVI. The Three Attacks
LXVII. "He Is Such a Beast"
LXVIII. Brook Street
LXIX. "Pert Poppet!"
LXX. "Love May Be a Great Misfortune"
LXXI. "What Am I to Say, Sir?"
LXXII. Carlton Terrace
LXXIII. "I Have Never Loved You"
LXXIV. "Let Us Drink a Glass of Wine Together"
LXXV. The Major's Story
LXXVI. On Deportment
LXXVII. "Mabel, Good-Bye"
LXXVIII. The Duke Returns to Office
LXXIX. The First Wedding
LXXX. The Second Wedding

CHAPTER I

When the Duchess Was Dead

No one, probably, ever felt himself to be more alone in the world
than our old friend, the Duke of Omnium, when the Duchess died. When
this sad event happened he had ceased to be Prime Minister. During
the first nine months after he had left office he and the Duchess
remained in England. Then they had gone abroad, taking with them
their three children. The eldest, Lord Silverbridge, had been at
Oxford, but had had his career there cut short by some more than
ordinary youthful folly, which had induced his father to agree with
the college authorities that his name had better be taken off the
college books,--all which had been cause of very great sorrow to
the Duke. The other boy was to go to Cambridge; but his father had
thought it well to give him a twelvemonth's run on the Continent,
under his own inspection. Lady Mary, the only daughter, was the
youngest of the family, and she also had been with them on the
Continent. They remained the full year abroad, travelling with a
large accompaniment of tutors, lady's-maids, couriers, and sometimes
friends. I do not know that the Duchess or the Duke had enjoyed it
much; but the young peop