ny party, except, indeed, in that
unlucky pamphlet. This must not be an affair of sentiment, but of sense
and reflection. Let us say no more on the point now; but by considering
the pros and the cons, you can better judge what to do, should the time
for option suddenly arrive."

"But I hope that time may not come."

"I hope so too, and most sincerely," said the minister, with deliberate
and genuine emphasis.

"What could be so bad for the country?" ejaculated Pandal. "It does not
seem to me possible, in the nature of things, that you and your party
should ever go out!"

"And when we are once out, there will be plenty of wiseacres to say it
is out of the nature of things that we should ever come in again. Here
we are at the door."

CHAPTER V.

Randal passed a sleepless night; but, indeed, he was one of those
persons who neither need, nor are accustomed to, much sleep. However,
towards morning, when dreams are said to be prophetic, he fell into a
most delightful slumber, a slumber peopled by visions fitted to lure on,
through labyrinths of law, predestined chancellors, or wreck upon the
rocks of glory the inebriate souls of youthful ensigns; dreams from
which Rood Hall emerged crowned with the towers of Belvoir or Raby,
and looking over subject lands and manors wrested from the nefarious
usurpation of Thornhills and Hazeldeans; dreams in which Audley
Egerton's gold and power, rooms in Downing Street, and saloons in
Grosvenor Square, had passed away to the smiling dreamer, as the empire
of Chaldaea passed to Darius the Median. Why visions so belying the
gloomy and anxious thoughts that preceded them should visit the pillow
of Randal Leslie, surpasses my philosophy to conjecture. He yielded,
however, passively to their spell, and was startled to hear the clock
strike eleven as he descended the stairs to breakfast. He was vexed at
the lateness of the hour, for he had meant to have taken advantage of
the unwonted softness of Egerton, and drawn therefrom some promises or
proffers to cheer the prospects which the minister had so chillingly
expanded before him the preceding night; and it was only at breakfast
that he usually found the opportunity of private conference with his
busy patron. But Audley Egerton would be sure to have sallied forth; and
so he had, only Randal was surprised to hear that he had gone out in his
carriage, instead of on foot, as was his habit. Randal soon despatched
his solitary meal, and wi