nd I think I convinced my Lord--for I saw
him in London--that Egerton would have no chance, though Leslie might."

"I must think that Lord L'Estrange would resist to the utmost any
attempt to prefer Leslie--whom he despises--to Egerton, whom he honours.
And, so thinking, I too would resist it, as you may judge by the
speeches which have so provoked your displeasure."

"Let us cut short a yarn of talk which, when it comes to likings and
dislikings, might last to almighty crack: I'll ask you to do nothing
that Lord L'Estrange does not sanction. Will that satisfy you?"

"Certainly, provided I am assured of the sanction."

And now, the important day preceding the poll, the day in which the
candidates were to be formally nominated, and meet each other in all the
ceremony of declared rivalship, dawned at last. The town-hall was the
place selected for the occasion; and before sunrise, all the streets
were resonant with music, and gay with banners.

Audley Egerton felt that he could not--without incurring some
just sarcasm on his dread to face the constituency he had formerly
represented, and by the malcontents of which he had been burned in
effigy--absent himself from the townhall, as he had done from balcony
and hostel. Painful as it was to confront Nora's brother, and wrestle
in public against all the secret memories that knit the strife of the
present contest with the anguish that recalled the first,--still the
thing must be done; and it was the English habit of his life to face
with courage whatever he had to do.

CHAPTER XXIV.

The chiefs of the Blue party went in state from Lansmere Park; the
two candidates in open carriages, each attended with his proposer and
seconder. Other carriages were devoted to Harley and Levy, and the
principal members of the Committee. Riccabocca was seized with a fit of
melancholy or cynicism, and declined to join the procession. But just
before they started, as all were assembling without the front door, the
postman arrived with his welcome bag. There were letters for Harley,
some for Levy, many for Egerton, one for Randal Leslie.

Levy, soon hurrying over his own correspondence, looked, in the familiar
freedom wherewith he usually treated his particular friends, over
Randal's shoulder.

"From the squire?" said he. "Ah, he has written at last! What made him
delay so long? Hope he relieves your mind?"

"Yes," cried Randal, giving way to a joy that rarely lighted up
his close