at what
he had said should be conveyed to Lord Brentford.

CHAPTER XXIX

The Spooner Correspondence

It will be remembered that Adelaide Palliser had accepted the hand of
Mr. Maule, junior, and that she and Lady Chiltern between them had
despatched him up to London on an embassy to his father, in which he
failed very signally. It had been originally Lady Chiltern's idea
that the proper home for the young couple would be the ancestral
hall, which must be theirs some day, and in which, with exceeding
prudence, they might be able to live as Maules of Maule Abbey upon
the very limited income which would belong to them. How slight were
the grounds for imputing such stern prudence to Gerard Maule both the
ladies felt;--but it had become essential to do something; the young
people were engaged to each other, and a manner of life must be
suggested, discussed, and as far as possible arranged. Lady Chiltern
was useful at such work, having a practical turn of mind, and
understanding well the condition of life for which it was necessary
that her friend should prepare herself. The lover was not vicious,
he neither drank nor gambled, nor ran himself hopelessly in debt.
He was good-humoured and tractable, and docile enough when nothing
disagreeable was asked from him. He would have, he said, no objection
to live at Maule Abbey if Adelaide liked it. He didn't believe much
in farming, but would consent at Adelaide's request to be the owner
of bullocks. He was quite ready to give up hunting, having already
taught himself to think that the very few good runs in a season
were hardly worth the trouble of getting up before daylight all the
winter. He went forth, therefore, on his embassy, and we know how he
failed. Another lover would have communicated the disastrous tidings
at once to the lady; but Gerard Maule waited a week before he did so,
and then told his story in half-a-dozen words. "The governor cut up
rough about Maule Abbey, and will not hear of it. He generally does
cut up rough."

"But he must be made to hear of it," said Lady Chiltern. Two days
afterwards the news reached Harrington of the death of the Duke of
Omnium. A letter of an official nature reached Adelaide from Mr.
Fothergill, in which the writer explained that he had been desired by
Mr. Palliser to communicate to her and the relatives the sad tidings.
"So the poor old man has gone at last," said Lady Chiltern, with that
affectation of funereal gravity whi