o Egremont the morning after the
Derby, as breakfasting with her in her boudoir he detailed some of the
circumstances of the race, "we must forget your naughty horse. I
sent you a little note this morning, because I wished to see you most
particularly before you went out. Affairs," continued Lady Marney, first
looking round the chamber to see whether there were any fairy listening
to her state secrets, "affairs are critical."

"No doubt of that," thought Egremont, the horrid phantom of settling-day
seeming to obtrude itself between his mother and himself; but not
knowing precisely at what she was driving, he merely sipped his tea, and
innocently replied, "Why?"

"There will be a dissolution," said Lady Marney.

"What are we coming in?"

Lady Marney shook her head.

"The present men will not better their majority," said Egremont.

"I hope not," said Lady Marney.

"Why you always said, that with another general election we must come
in, whoever dissolved."

"But that was with the court in our favour," rejoined Lady Marney
mournfully.

"What, has the king changed?" said Egremont. "I thought it was all
right."

"All was right," said Lady Marney. "These men would have been turned out
again, had he only lived three months more."

"Lived!" exclaimed Egremont.

"Yes," said Lady Marney; "the king is dying."

Slowly delivering himself of an ejaculation, Egremont leant back in his
chair.

"He may live a month," said Lady Marnev; "he cannot live two. It is the
greatest of secrets; known at this moment only to four individuals, and
I communicate it to you, my dear Charles, in that absolute confidence
which I hope will always subsist between us, because it is an event that
may greatly affect your career."

"How so, my dear mother?"

"Marbury! I have settled with Mr Tadpole that you shall stand for the
old borough. With the government in our hands, as I had anticipated
at the general election, success I think was certain: under the
circumstances which we must encounter, the struggle will be more severe,
but I think we shall do it: and it will be a happy day for me to have
our own again, and to see you in Parliament, my dear child."

"Well, my dear mother, I should like very much to be in Parliament, and
particularly to sit for the old borough; but I fear the contest will be
very expensive," said Egremont inquiringly.

"Oh! I have no doubt," said Lady Marney, "that we shall have
some monster of the middle class