far from feeling, and putting aside
his daughter's arms, the exile walked away. Violante paused a moment,
shivered, looked round as if taking a last farewell of joy and peace
and hope on earth, and then approaching her father with a firm step, she
said, "I never rebelled, Father; I did but entreat. What you say is my
law now, as it has ever been; and come what may, never shall you hear
complaint or murmur from me. Poor Father, you will suffer more than I
shall. Kiss me!"

About an hour afterwards, as the short day closed in, Harley,
returning from his solitary wanderings, after he had parted from Helen,
encountered on the terrace, before the house, Lady Lansmere and Audley
Egerton arm in arm.

Harley had drawn his hat over his brows, and his eyes were fixed on the
ground, so that he did not see the group upon which he came unawares,
until Audley's voice startled him from his revery.

"My dear Harley," said the ex-minister, with a faint smile, "you must
not pass us by, now that you have a moment of leisure from the cares of
the election. And, Harley, though we are under the same roof, I see you
so little." Lord L'Estrange darted a quick glance towards his mother,--a
glance that seemed to say, "You leaning on Audley's arm! Have you kept
your promise?" And the eye that met his own reassured him.

"It is true," said Harley; "but you, who know that, once engaged in
public affairs, one has no heart left for the ties of private life, will
excuse me. And this election is so important!"

"And you, Mr. Egerton," said Lady Lansmere, "whom the election most
concerns, seem privileged to be the only one who appears indifferent to
success."

"Ay; but you are not indifferent?" said Lord L'Estrange, abruptly.

"No. How can I be so, when my whole future career may depend on it?"

Harley drew Egerton aside. "There is one voter you ought at least to
call upon and thank. He cannot be made to comprehend that, for the sake
of any relation, even for the sake of his own son, he is to vote against
the Blues,--against you; I mean, of course, Nora's father, John Avenel.
His vote and his son-in-law's gained your majority at your first
election."

EGERTON.--"Call on John Avenel! Have you called?"

HARLEY (calmly).--"Yes. Poor old man, his mind has been affected ever
since Nora's death. But your name as the candidate for the borough at
that time,--the successful candidate for whose triumph the joy-bells
chimed with her funeral knell,--yo