well knew what the effect of this would be on his friends in
London, and how he would have earned their gratitude if he could carry
the seat on these lines.

On the day before the poll, Sir John Pynsent came to Vanebury, to attend
the last of the public meetings.

"Admirably done, so far!" he said, as he grasped Sydney's hand at the
station. "How are things looking?"

"It is a certain win!" said Sydney. "No question about it."

And a win it was, such as any old campaigner might have been proud of.
The numbers as declared by the returning officer were:

Campion (C.) 4765
Hawkins (L.) 4564
----
Majority 201

At the last election Tourmaline had had a majority of six hundred over
his Conservative opponent, so that there had been a turnover of about
four hundred voters. And no one doubted that a large number of these had
made up their minds to turn since Campion had begun his canvass.

This was a complete success for Sydney. He was now Mr. Campion, M.P.,
with both feet on the ladder of ambition. Congratulations poured in upon
him from all sides, and from that moment he was recognized by everybody
as one of the coming men of the Conservative party.

CHAPTER XIV.

SYDNEY MAKES A MISTAKE.

There was a social side to Sydney's success which he was not slow to
appreciate. A poor and ambitious man, bent on climbing the ladder of
promotion, he was willing to avail himself of every help which came in
his way. And Sir John Pynsent was good-naturedly ready to give him a
helping hand.

During the past season he had found himself welcome in houses where the
best society of the day was wont to congregate. He had several
invitations for the autumn to places where it was considered a
distinction to be invited; and, being a man of much worldly wisdom, he
was disposed to be sorry that he had made arrangements to go abroad for
two or three months. He was vague in detailing his plans to his friends;
but in his own mind he was never vague, and he knew what he meant to do
and where he was going to spend the vacation well enough, although he
did not choose to take club acquaintances into his confidence.

But one invitation, given by Sir John Pynsent, for the Sunday subsequent
to his election--or rather, from Saturday to Monday--he thought it
expedient as well as pleasant to accept. Vanebury was a very few miles
distant from St. John's country-house, and when the baronet,