e that Phineas Finn
should ever again accept office, as of course the Tankervillians
would never replace him in his seat after manifest apostasy to his
pledge; but Mr. Ratler seemed to think very little of that. "They
won't remember, Lord bless you;--and then he's one of those fellows
that always get in somewhere. He's not a man I particularly like; but
you'll always see him in the House;--up and down, you know. When a
fellow begins early, and has got it in him, it's hard to shake him
off." And thus even Mr. Ratler was civil to our hero.

Lady Laura Kennedy's letter had, of course, been answered,--not
without very great difficulty. "My dear Laura," he had begun,--for
the first time in his life. She had told him to treat her as a
brother would do, and he thought it best to comply with her
instructions. But beyond that, till he declared himself at the end to
be hers affectionately, he made no further protestation of affection.
He made no allusion to that sin which weighed so heavily on her, but
answered all her questions. He advised her to remain at Dresden. He
assured her that no power could be used to enforce her return. He
expressed his belief that Mr. Kennedy would abstain from making any
public statement, but suggested that if any were made the answering
of it should be left to the family lawyer. In regard to the money, he
thought it impossible that any step should be taken. He then told her
all there was to tell of Lord and Lady Chiltern, and something also
of himself. When the letter was written he found that it was cold and
almost constrained. To his own ears it did not sound like the hearty
letter of a generous friend. It savoured of the caution with which it
had been prepared. But what could he do? Would he not sin against
her and increase her difficulties if he addressed her with warm
affection? Were he to say a word that ought not to be addressed to
any woman he might do her an irreparable injury; and yet the tone of
his own letter was odious to him.

CHAPTER XXI

Mr. Maule, Senior

The life of Mr. Maurice Maule, of Maule Abbey, the father of Gerard
Maule, had certainly not been prosperous. He had from his boyhood
enjoyed a reputation for cleverness, and at school had done great
things,--winning prizes, spouting speeches on Speech days, playing in
elevens, and looking always handsome. He had been one of those show
boys of which two or three are generally to be found at our great
schools, and all