ere
both at Gatherum Castle. Mrs Grey was there at the moment of which
we write, but Mr Grey was absent at Silverbridge with Mr Palliser.
This was the day of the Silverbridge election, and Mr Grey had gone
to that ancient borough, to offer himself as a candidate to the
electors, backed by the presence and aid of a very powerful member of
the Cabinet. Lady Glencora and Alice were sitting up-stairs with the
small, purple-born one in their presence, and the small, purple-born
one was lying in Alice's lap.

"It is such a comfort that it is over," said the mother.

"You are the most ungrateful of women."

"Oh, Alice,--if you could have known! Your baby may come just as it
pleases. You won't lie awake trembling how on earth you will bear
your disgrace if one of the vile weaker sex should come to disturb
the hopes of your lords and masters;--for I had two, which made it so
much more terrible."

"I'm sure Mr Palliser would not have said a word."

"No, he would have said nothing,--nor would the Duke. The Duke would
simply have gone away instantly, and never have seen me again till
the next chance comes,--if it ever does come. And Mr Palliser would
have been as gentle as a dove;--much more gentle than he is now, for
men are rarely gentle in their triumph. But I should have known what
they both thought and felt."

"It's all right now, dear."

"Yes, my bonny boy,--you have made it all right for me;--have you
not?" And Lady Glencora took her baby into her own arms. "You have
made everything right, my little man. But oh, Alice, if you had seen
the Duke's long face through those three days; if you had heard the
tones of the people's voices as they whispered about me; if you
had encountered the oppressive cheerfulness of those two London
doctors,--doctors are such bad actors,--you would have thought it
impossible for any woman to live throughout. There's one comfort;--if
my mannikin lives, I can't have another eldest. He looks like
living;--don't he, Alice?" Then were perpetrated various mysterious
ceremonies of feminine idolatry which were continued till there came
a grandly dressed old lady, who called herself the nurse, and who
took the idol away.

In the course of that afternoon Lady Glencora took Alice all over
the house. It was a castle of enormous size, quite new,--having been
built by the present proprietor,--very cold, very handsome, and very
dull. "What an immense place!" said Alice, as she stood looking round
her