ey, and under the most favourable circumstances, are
so doubtful. A man is never sure there till he has fought for his
seat three or four times."

"This has been the third time with him," said Alice, "and he is a
poor man."

"Dear, dear," said Mr Palliser, who himself knew nothing of such
misfortunes. "I have always thought that those seats should be
left to rich commercial men who can afford to spend money upon them.
Instead of that, they are generally contested by men of moderate
means. Another of my friends in the House has been thrown out."

"Who is that unfortunate?" asked Lady Glencora.

"Mr Bott," said the unthinking husband.

"Mr Bott out!" exclaimed Lady Glencora. "Mr Bott thrown out! I am so
glad. Alice, are you not glad? The red-haired man, that used to stand
about, you know, at Matching;--he has lost his seat in Parliament. I
suppose he'll go and stand about somewhere in Lancashire, now."

A very indiscreet woman was poor Lady Glencora. Mr Palliser's face
became black beneath _The Times_ newspaper. "I did not know," said
he, "that my friend Mr Bott and Miss Vavasor were enemies."

"Enemies! I don't suppose they were enemies," said Glencora. "But he
was a man whom no one could help observing,--and disliking."

"He was a man I specially disliked," said Alice, with great courage.
"He may be very well in Parliament; but I never met a man who could
make himself so disagreeable in society. I really did feel myself
constrained to be his enemy."

"Bravo, Alice!" said Lady Glencora.

"I hope he did nothing at Matching, to--to--to--," began Mr Palliser,
apologetically.

"Nothing especially to offend me, Mr Palliser,--except that he had
a way that I especially dislike of trying to make little secret
confidences."

"And then he was so ugly," said Lady Glencora.

"I felt certain that he endeavoured to do mischief," said Alice.

"Of course he did," said Lady Glencora; "and he had a habit of
rubbing his head against the papers in the rooms, and leaving a mark
behind him that was quite unpardonable."

Mr Palliser was effectually talked down, and felt himself constrained
to abandon his political ally. Perhaps he did this the easier as the
loss which Mr Bott had just suffered would materially interfere with
his political utility. "I suppose he will remain now among his own
people," said Mr Palliser.

"Let us hope he will," said Lady Glencora,--"and that his own people
will appreciate the advantage of his