me if I would rather
secure Mr. Egerton's election than yours. Let that explanation suffice
for the present. What think you, by the way, of Audley Egerton?"

"I thought when I heard him speak and when he closed with those touching
words,--implying that he left all of his life not devoted to his country
'to the charity of his friends,'--how proudly, even as his opponent, I
could have clasped his hand; and if he had wronged me in private life,
I should have thought it ingratitude to the country he had so served to
remember the offence."

Harley turned away abruptly, and joined Mr. Dale.

"Leave Leonard to go home by himself; you see that I have healed
whatever wounds I inflicted on him."

PARSON.--"And, your better nature thus awakened, I trust, my dear Lord,
that you have altogether abandoned the idea of--"

HARLEY.--"Revenge?--no. And if you do not approve that revenge
to-morrow, I will never rest till I have seen you--a bishop!"

MR. DALE (much shocked).--"My Lord, for shame!"

HARLEY (seriously).--"My levity is but lip-deep, my dear Mr. Dale. But
sometimes the froth on the wave shows the change in the tide."

The parson looked at him earnestly, and then seized him by both hands
with holy gladness and affection.

"Return to the Park now," said Harley, smiling; "and tell Violante,
if it be not too late to see her, that she was even more eloquent than
you."

Lord L'Estrange bounded forward.

Mr. Dale walked back through the park to Lansmere House. On the terrace
he found Randal, who was still pacing to and fro, sometimes in the
starlight, sometimes in the shadow.

Leslie looked up, and seeing Mr. Dale, the close astuteness of his
aspect returned; and stepping out of the starlight deep into the shadow,
he said,

"I was sorry to learn that Mr. Fairfield had been so hurt by Lord
L'Estrange's severe allusions. Pity that political differences should
interfere with private friendships; but I hear that you have been to
Mr. Fairfield,--and, doubtless, as the peacemaker. Perhaps you met
Lord L'Estrange by the way? He promised me that he would apologize and
retract."

"Good young man!" said the unsuspecting parson, "he has done so."

"And Mr. Leonard Fairfield will, therefore, I presume, continue the
contest?"

"Contest--ah, this election! I suppose so, of course. But I grieve that
he should stand against you, who seem to be disposed towards him so
kindly."

"Oh," said Randal, with a benevolent smile, "we ha