er cousin had in truth done to her. It was undoubtedly
true that had Alice neither seen nor heard from Kate during the
progress of John Grey's courtship, John Grey would not have lost his
wife. But against this truth Alice was always protesting within her
own breast. She had been weak, foolish, irresolute,--and had finally
acted with false judgement. So much she now admitted to herself. But
she would not admit that any other woman had persuaded her to such
weakness. "She mistakes me," Alice thought, as she put up her letter.
"She is not the enemy who has wounded me."

Mr Palliser, who had brought her the letter, was seated in the same
balcony, and while Alice had been reading, had almost buried himself
in newspapers which conveyed intelligence as to the general elections
then in progress. He was now seated with a sheet of _The Times_ in
his hand, opened to its full extent,--for he had been too impatient
to cut the paper,--and as he held it up in his hands before his eyes,
was completely hidden beneath it. Five or six other open papers were
around him, and he had not spoken a word since he had commenced his
present occupation. Lady Glencora was standing on the other side of
him, and she also had received letters. "Sophy tells me that you are
returned for Silverbridge," she said at last.

"Who? I! yes; I'm returned," said Mr Palliser, speaking with
something like disdain in his voice as to the possibility of anybody
having stood with a chance of success against him in his own family
borough. For a full appreciation of the advantages of a private seat
in the House of Commons let us always go to those great Whig families
who were mainly instrumental in carrying the Reform Bill. The house
of Omnium had been very great on that occasion. It had given up
much, and had retained for family use simply the single seat at
Silverbridge. But that that seat should be seriously disputed hardly
suggested itself as possible to the mind of any Palliser. The
Pallisers and the other great Whig families have been right in this.
They have kept in their hands, as rewards for their own services to
the country, no more than the country is manifestly willing to give
them. "Yes; I have been returned," said Mr Palliser. "I'm sorry to
see, Miss Vavasor, that your cousin has not been so fortunate."

"So I find," said Alice. "It will be a great misfortune to him."

"Ah! I suppose so. Those Metropolitan elections cost so much trouble
and so much mon