eturned, although he did not own an acre of land in the county.
It is true that rumour went on to say that Lord Dumbello was about to
form close connexions with Barsetshire. He was on the eve of marrying
a young lady, from the other division indeed, and was now engaged,
so it was said, in completing arrangements with the Government for
the purchase of that noble Crown property usually known as the
Chace of Chaldicotes. It was also stated--this statement, however,
had hitherto been only announced in confidential whispers--that
Chaldicotes House itself would soon become the residence of the
marquis. The duke was claiming it as his own--would very shortly
have completed his claims and taken possession:--and then, by some
arrangement between them, it was to be made over to Lord Dumbello.
But very contrary rumours to these got abroad also. Men said--such
as dared to oppose the duke, and some few also who did not dare
to oppose him when the day of battle came--that it was beyond his
grace's power to turn Lord Dumbello into a Barsetshire magnate. The
Crown property--such men said--was to fall into the hands of young
Mr. Gresham, of Boxall Hill, in the other division, and that the
terms of purchase had been already settled. And as to Mr. Sowerby's
property and the house of Chaldicotes--these opponents of the Omnium
interest went on to explain--it was by no means as yet so certain
that the duke would be able to enter it and take possession. The
place was not to be given up to him quietly. A great fight would be
made, and it was beginning to be believed that the enormous mortgages
would be paid off by a lady of immense wealth. And then a dash of
romance was not wanting to make these stories palatable. This lady of
immense wealth had been courted by Mr. Sowerby, had acknowledged her
love,--but had refused to marry him on account of his character. In
testimony of her love, however, she was about to pay all his debts.

It was soon put beyond a rumour, and became manifest enough, that Mr.
Sowerby did not intend to retire from the county in obedience to the
duke's behests. A placard was posted through the whole division in
which no allusion was made by name to the duke, but in which Mr.
Sowerby warned his friends not to be led away by any report that he
intended to retire from the representation of West Barsetshire. "He
had sat," the placard said, "for the same county during the full
period of a quarter of a century, and he would not