y greeting, and suddenly turned aside to hail a hansom, into
which he jumped, and was carried promptly out of sight.

Marsham was conscious of a sudden heat in the face. He had never yet
been so sharply reminded of a changed relation. After Diana's departure
he had himself written to Chide, defending his own share in the matter,
speaking bitterly of the action taken by his mother and sister, and
lamenting that Diana had not been willing to adopt the waiting and
temporizing policy, which alone offered any hope of subduing his
mother's opposition. Marsham declared--persuading himself, as he wrote,
of the complete truth of the statement--that he had been quite willing
to relinquish his father's inheritance for Diana's sake, and that it was
her own action alone that had separated them. Sir James had rather
coldly acknowledged the letter, with the remark that few words were best
on a subject so painful; and since then there had been no intimacy
between the two men. Marsham could only think with discomfort of the
scene at Felton Park, when a man of passionate nature and romantic heart
had allowed him access to the most sacred and tragic memories of his
life. Sir James felt, he supposed, that he had been cheated out of his
confidence--cheated out of his sympathy. Well!--it was unjust!

* * * * *

He reached Eaton Square in good time for dinner, and found his mother in
the drawing-room.

"You look tired, Oliver," she said, as he kissed her.

"It's the east wind, I suppose--beastly day!"

Lady Lucy surveyed him, as he stood, moody and physically chilled, with
his back to the fire.

"Was the debate interesting?"

"Ferrier made a very disappointing speech. All our fellows are getting
restive."

Lady Lucy looked astonished.

"Surely they ought to trust his judgment! He has done so splendidly for
the party."

Marsham shook his head.

"I wish you would use your influence," he said, slowly. "There is a
regular revolt coming on. A large number of men on our side say they
won't be led by him; that if we come in, he must go to the Lords."

Lady Lucy started.

"Oliver!" she said, indignantly, "you know it would break his heart!"

And before both minds there rose a vision of Ferrier's future, as he
himself certainly conceived it. A triumphant election--the Liberals in
office--himself, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and leader of the
Commons--with the reversion of the Premiership whenever old