breathing was hard
and difficult; the bed-clothes were partially thrown off, as if in the
tossing of disturbed dreams; the sinewy strong arm, the broad athletic
breast, were partly bare. Strange that so deadly a disease within should
leave the frame such apparent power that, to the ordinary eye, the
sleeping sufferer seemed a model of healthful vigour. One hand was
thrust with uneasy straining over the pillows,--it had its hold on
the fatal papers; a portion of the leaves was visible; and where the
characters had been blurred by Nora's tears, were the traces, yet moist,
of tears perhaps more bitter.

Harley felt deeply affected; and while he still stood by the bed,
Egerton sighed heavily and woke. He stared round him, as if perplexed
and confused, till his eyes resting on Harley, he smiled and said,

"So early! Ah, I remember, it is the day for our great boat-race. We
shall have the current against us; but you and I together--when did we
ever lose?"

Audley's mind was wandering; it had gone back to the old Eton days. But
Harley thought that he spoke in metaphorical allusion to the present
more important contest.

"True, my Audley,--you and I together--when did we ever lose? But will
you rise? I wish you would be at the polling-place to shake hands with
your voters as they come up. By four o'clock you will be released, and
the election won."

"The election! How! what!" said Egerton, recovering himself. "I
recollect now. Yes,--I accept this last kindness from you. I always said
I would die in harness. Public life--I have no other. Ah, I dream again!
Oh, Harley my son, my son!"

"You shall see him after four o'clock. You will be proud of each other.
But make haste and dress. Shall I ring the bell for your servant?"

"Do," said Egerton, briefly, and sinking back. Harley quitted the room,
and joined Randal and some of the more important members of the Blue
Committee, who were already hurrying over their breakfast.

All were anxious and nervous except Harley, who dipped his dry toast
into his coffee, according to his ordinary abstemious Italian habit,
with serene composure. Randal in vain tried for an equal tranquillity.
But though sure of his election, there would necessarily follow a scene
trying to the nerve of his hypocrisy. He would have to affect profound
chagrin in the midst of vile joy; have to act the part of decorous
high-minded sorrow, that by some untoward chance, some unaccountable
cross-splitting, Rand