 Chapter 12 of Phineas Redux by Anthony Trollop. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Denise Lacey. Phineas Redux by Anthony Trollop. Chapter 12, Kernickstein. Phineas Finn and Lady Laura Kennedy sat together discussing the affairs of the past till the servant told them that my Lord was in the next room and ready to receive Mr. Finn. You will find him much altered, said Lady Laura, even more than I am. I do not find you altered at all. Yes, you do, in appearance. I am a middle-aged woman and conscious that I may use my privileges as such, but he has become quite an old man, not in health so much as in manner. But he will be very glad to see you. So saying, she led him into a room in which he found the Earl seated next to the fireplace and wrapped in furs. He got up to receive his guest and Phineas saw at once that during the two years of his exile from England, Lord Brentford had passed from manhood to senility. He almost tottered as he came forward and he wrapped his coat around him with that air of studious self-preservation which belongs only to the infirm. It is very good of you to come and see me, Mr. Finn, he said. Don't call him Mr. Finn, Papa. I call him Phineas. Well, yes, that's all right, I dare say. It's a terrible long journey from London, isn't it, Mr. Finn? Too long to be pleasant, my Lord. Pleasant? Oh dear. There's no pleasantness about it and they've got an autumn session, have they? That's always a very stupid thing to do unless they want money. But there is a money bill which must be passed. That's Mr. Dobbyny's excuse. Ah, if they have a money bill, of course it's all right. So you're in Parliament again? I'm sorry to say I'm not. Then Lady Lara explained to her father, probably for the third or fourth time, exactly what was their guest's position. Oh, a scrutiny. They didn't used to have any scrutinies at Loten, did we? Ah, me. Well, everything seems to be going to the dogs. I'm told they're attacking the church now. Lady Lara glanced at Phineas, but neither of them said a word. I don't quite understand it, but they tell me that the Tories are going to disestablish the church. I'm very glad I'm out of it all. Things have come to such a pass that I don't see how a gentleman is to hold office nowadays. Have you seen children lately? After a while, when Phineas had told the Earl all that there was to tell of his son and grandson and all of politics and Parliament, Lady Lara suddenly interrupted them. You knew, Papa, that he was to see Mr. Kennedy. He has been to Lowlinter and he has seen him. Oh, indeed? He is quite assured that I could not with wisdom return to live with my husband. It is a very grave decision to make, said the Earl. But he has no doubt about it, continued Lady Lara. Not a shadow of a doubt, said Phineas. I will not say that Mr. Kennedy is mad, but the condition of his mind is such in regard to Lady Lara that I do not think she could live with him in safety. He is crazed about religion. Dear, dear, dear, exclaimed the Earl. The gloom of his house is insupportable and he does not pretend that he desires her to return that he and she may be happy together. What for, then? That we might be unhappy together, said Lady Lara. He repudiates all belief in happiness. He wishes her to return to him chiefly because it is right that a man and wife should live together. So it is, said the Earl. But not to the utter wretchedness of both of them, said Lady Lara. He says, and she pointed to Phineas, that were I there he would renew his accusation against me. He has not told me all. Perhaps he cannot tell me all, but I certainly will not return to Lowlynter. Very well, my dear. It is not very well, Papa, but nevertheless I will not return to Lowlynter. What I suffered there, neither of you can understand. That afternoon Phineas went out alone to the galleries, but the next day she accompanied him and showed him whatever of glory the town had to offer in its winter dress. They stood together before great masters and together examined small gems. And then from day to day they were always in each other's company. He had promised to stay a month and during that time he was petted and comforted to his heart's content. Lady Lara would have taken him into the Saxon Switzerland in spite of the inclemency of the weather and her father's rebukes. Had he not declared vehemently that he was happier remaining in the town. But she did succeed in carrying him off to the Fortress of Kernigstein, and there as they wandered along the fortress constructed on that wonderful rock there occurred between them a conversation which he never forgot and which it would not have been easy to forget. His own prospects had of course been frequently discussed. He had told her everything down to the exact amount of money which he had to support him till he should again be enabled to earn an income and had received assurances from her that everything would be just as it should be after a lapse of a few months. The Liberals would as a matter of course come in and equally as a matter of course Phineas would be in office. She spoke of this with such certainty that she almost convinced him. Having tempted him away from the safety of permanent income the party could do no less than provide for him. If he could only secure a seat he would be safe and it seemed that Tankerville would be a certain seat. This certainty he would not admit. But nevertheless he was comforted by his friend. When you have done the rascist thing in the world it is a very pleasant to be told that no man of spirit could have acted otherwise. It was a matter of course that he should return to public life so said Lady Lara and doubly a matter of course when he found himself a widower without a child. Whether it be a bad life or a good life said Lady Lara you and I understand equally well that no other life is worth having after it. We are like the actors who cannot bear to be away from the gas lights when once they have lived amidst their glare. As she said this they were leaning together over one of the parapets of the great fortress and the sadness of the words struck him as they bore upon herself. She had also lived amidst the gas lights and now she was self banished into absolute obscurity. You could not have been content with your life in Dublin she said. Are you content with your life in Dresden? Certainly not. We all like exercise but the man who has had his leg cut off can't walk. Some can walk with safety others only with a certain peril and others cannot at all. You are in the second position but I am in the last. I do not see why you should not return. And if I did what would come of it? In place of the seclusion of Dresden there would be the seclusion of Portman Square where the walls be. Who would care to have me at their houses or to come to mine? You know what a hazardous, chancy, short life thing is the fashion of a woman. With wealth and wit and social charm and impudence she may preserve it for some years but when she has once lost it she can never recover it. I am as much lost to the people who did know me in London as though I had been buried for a century. A man makes himself really useful but a woman can never do that. All those general rules mean nothing said Phineas, I should try it. No Phineas, I know better than that. It would only be disappointment. I hardly think that after all you ever did understand when it was that I broke down utterly and marred my fortunes forever. I know the day that did it. When I accepted him? Of course it was, I know that and so do you. There need be no secret between us. There need be no secret between us certainly and on my part there shall be none. On my part there has been none. Nor on mine. There has been nothing for you to tell since you blurted out your short story of love that day over the waterfall when I tried so hard to stop you. How was I to be stopped then? No, you were too simple. You came there with but one idea and you could not change it on the spur of the moment. When I told you that I was engaged you could not swallow back the words that were not yet spoken. Ah, how well I remember it. But you are wrong Phineas, it was not my engagement or my marriage that has made the world a blank for me. A feeling came upon him which half choked him so that he could ask her no further question. You know that, Phineas. It was your marriage, he said, gruffly. It was and has been and still will be my strong, unalterable, unquenchable love for you. How could I behave to that other man with even seeming tenderness when my mind was always thinking of you when my heart was always fixed upon you? But you have been so simple, so little given to vanity and she leaned upon his arm as she spoke, so pure and so manly that you have not believed this even when I told you. Has it not been so? I do not wish to believe it now. But you do believe it. You must and shall believe it. I ask for nothing in return. As my God is my judge, if I thought it possible that your heart should be to me as mine is to you, I could have put a pistol to my ear sooner than speak as I have spoken. Though she paused for some word from him, he could not utter a word. He remembered many things, but even to her in his present mood he could not allude to them. How he had kissed her at the falls, how she had bade him not come back to the house because his presence to her was insupportable, how she had again encouraged him to come and had then forbidden him to accept even an invitation to dinner from her husband. And he remembered too the fierceness of her anger to him when he told her of his love for violet effingham. I must insist upon it, she continued, that you shall take me now as I really am, as your dearest friend, your sister, your mother if you will. I know what I am. Were my husband not still living, it would be the same. I should never under any circumstances marry again. I have passed the period of a woman's life when as a woman she is loved, but I have not outlived the power of loving. I shall fret about you, Phineas, like an old hen after her one chick, and though you turn out to be a duck and get away into waters where I cannot follow you. He was holding her now by the hand, but he could not speak for the tears were trickling down his cheeks. When I was young, she continued, I did not credit myself with capacity for so much passion. I told myself that love after all should be a servant and not a master, and I married my husband, fully intending to do my duty to him. Now see what has come of it. It has been his fault, not yours, said Phineas. It was my fault, mine, for I never loved him. Had you not told me what manner of man he was before, and I had believed you though I denied it, and I knew when I went to low-linter that it was you whom I loved, and I knew too I almost knew that you would ask me to be your wife, were not that other thing settled first, and I declared to myself that, in spite of both our hearts, it should not be so. I had no money then, nor had you. I would have worked for you. Ah, yes, but you must not reproach me now, Phineas. I never deserted you as regarded your interests, though what little love you had for me was short-lived indeed. Hey, you are not accused and shall not excuse yourself. You were right, always right. When you had failed to win one woman, your heart with a true natural spring went to another, and so entire has been the cure that you went to the first woman with the tale of your love for the second. To whom was I to go but a friend? I did come to a friend, and though I could not drive out of my heart the demon of jealousy, though I was cut to the very bone, I would have helped you had help been possible. Though it had been the fixed purpose of my life that Violet and Oswald should be man and wife, I would have helped you because that other purpose of serving you in all things had become more fixed. But it was to no good end that I sang your praises. Violet effingham was not the girl to marry this man or that abiding of anyone, was she? No, indeed. It is of no use talking of it, is it? But I want you to understand me from the beginning, to understand all that was evil and anything that was good. Since first I found that you were to me the dearest of human beings, I have never once been untrue to your interests, though I have been unable not to be angry with you. Then came that wonderful episode in which you saved my husband's life. Not his life. Was it not singular that it should come from your hand? It seemed like fate. I tried to use the accident to make his friendship for you as thorough as my own. And then I was obliged to separate you because after all I was so mere a woman that I could not bear to have you near me. I can bear it now. Dear Laura. Yes, as your sister. I think you cannot but love me a little when you know how entirely I am devoted to you. I can bear to have you near me now. And I think of you only as the hand thinks of her duckling. For a moment you are out of the pond and I have gathered you under my wing. You understand? I know that I am unworthy of what you say of me. Worth has nothing to do with it, has no bearing on it. I do not say that you are more worthy than all whom I have known. But when did worth create love? What I want is that you should believe me and know that there is one bound to you who will never be unbound. One whom you can trust in all things. One to whom you can confess that you have been wrong if you go wrong and yet be sure that you will not lessen her regard. And with this feeling you must pretend to nothing more than friendship. You will love again, of course. Oh, no. Of course you will. I tried to blaze into power by a marriage and I failed because I was a woman. A woman should marry only for love. You will do it yet and will not fail. You may remember this, too, that I shall never be jealous again. You may tell me everything with safety. You will tell me everything. If there be anything to tell, I will. I will never stand between you and your wife, though I would feign hope that she should know how true a friend I am. Now we have walked here till it is dark and the sentry will think we are taking plans of the place. Are you cold? I have not thought about the cold. Nor have I. We will go down to the inn and warm ourselves before the train comes. I wonder why I should have brought you here to tell you my story. When she threw herself into his arms and he pressed her to his heart and kissed first her forehead and then her lips. It shall never be so again, she said. I will kill it out of my heart even though I should crucify my body. But it is not my love that I will kill. When you are happy, I will be happy. When you prosper, I will prosper. When you fail, I will fail. Rise as you will rise. I will rise with you. But I will never again feel the pressure of your arm around my waist. Here is the gate and the old guide. So my friend, you see that we are not lost. They then walked down the very steep hill to the little town below the fortress and there they remained till the evening train came from Prague and took them back to Dresden. Two days after this was the day fixed for Finn's departure. On the intermediate day, the Earl begged for a few minutes' private conversation with him and the two were closeted together for an hour. The Earl in truth had little or nothing to say. Things had so gone with him that he hardly had a will of his own left and did simply that which his daughter directed him to do. He pretended to consult Finneas as to the expediency of his returning to Salisby. Did Finneas think that his return would be of any use to the party? Finneas knew very well that the party would not recognize the difference whether the Earl lived at Dresden or in London. When a man has come to the end of his influence as the Earl has done, he is as much a nothing in politics as though he had never risen above that quantity. The Earl had never risen very high and even Finneas, with all his desire to be civil, could not say that the Earl's presence would materially serve the interests of the Liberal Party. He made what most civil excuses he could and suggested that if Lord Brentford should choose to return, Lady Laura would very willingly remain at Dresden alone. But why shouldn't she come to ask the Earl? And then, with the tardiness of old age, he proposed his little plan. Why should she not make an attempt once more with her husband? She never will, said Finneas. But think how much she loses, said the Earl. I am quite sure she never will and I am quite sure that she ought not to do so. The marriage was a misfortune. As it is, they are better apart. After that, the Earl did not dare to say another word about his daughter but discussed his son's affairs. Did not Finneas think that children might now be induced to go into Parliament? Nothing would make him do so, said Finneas. But he might farm. You see he has his hands full. But other men keep hounds and farm too, said the Earl. But children is not like other men. He gives his whole mind to it and finds full employment. And then he is quite happy and so is she. What more can you want for him? Everybody respects him. That goes a very great way, said the Earl. Then he thanked Finneas cordially and felt that now as ever he had done his duty by his family. There was no renewal of the passionate conversation which had taken place on the ramparts. But much of tenderness and of sympathy arose from it. Lady Laura took upon herself the tone and manners of an elder sister, of a sister very much older than her brother. And Finneas submitted to them not only gracefully but with delight to himself. He had not thanked her for her love when she expressed it and he did not do so afterwards. But he accepted it and bowed to it and recognized it as constituting one of the future laws of his life. He was to do nothing of importance without her knowledge. And he was to be at her command should she at any time want assistance in England. I suppose I shall come back someday, as she said as they were sitting together late on the evening before his departure. I cannot understand why you should not do so now. Your father wishes it. He thinks he does, but were he told that he was to go tomorrow or next summer it would fret him. I am assured that Mr. Kennedy could demand my return by law. He could not enforce it. He would attempt it. I will not go back until he consents to my living apart from him. And to tell the truth I am better here for a while. They say that sick animals always creep somewhere under cover. I am a sick animal and now that I have crept here I will remain till I am stronger. How terribly anxious you must be about Tancreville. I am anxious. You will telegraph to me at once. You will be sure to do that. Of course I will the moment I know my fate. And if it goes against you Ah, what then? I shall at once write to Barrington Earl. I don't suppose he would do much now for his poor cousin, but he can at any rate say what can be done. I should bid you come here only that stupid people would say that you were my lover. I should not mind only that he would hear it and I am bound to save him from annoyance. Would you not go down to Oswald again? With what object? Because anything will be better than returning to Ireland. Why not go down and look after Sal's bee? It would be a home and you need not tie yourself to it. I will speak to Papa about that, but you will get the seat. I think I shall, said Phineas. Do, pray do. If I could only get hold of that judge by the ears. Do you know what time it is? It is twelve and your train starts at eight. Then he arose to bid her adieu. No, she said. I shall see you off. Indeed you will not. It will be almost night when I leave this and the frost is like iron. Neither the night nor the frost will kill me. Do you think I will not give you your last breakfast? God bless you, dear. And on the following morning she did give him breakfast by candlelight and went down with him to the station. The morning was black and the frost was, as he had said, as hard as iron, but she was thoroughly good-humored and apparently happy. It has been so much to me to have you here that I might tell you everything, she said. You will understand me now. I understand, but I know not how to believe, he said. You do believe. You would be worse than a Jew if you did not believe me, but you understand also. I want you to marry, and you must tell her all the truth. If I can, I will love her almost as much as I do you. And if I live to see them, I will love your children as dearly as I do you. Your children shall be my children, or at least one of them shall be mine. You will tell me when it is to be. If I ever intend such a thing, I will tell you. Now, goodbye. I shall stand back there till the train starts, but do not you notice me. God bless you, Phineas. I held his hand tight within her own for some seconds and looked into his face with an unutterable love. Then she drew down her veil and went and stood apart till the train had left the platform. He has gone, Papa, Lady Laura said, as she stood afterwards by her father's bedside. Has he? Yes. I know he was to go, of course. I was very glad to see him, Laura. So was I, Papa, very glad indeed. Whatever happens to him, we must never lose sight of him again. We shall hear of him, of course, if he is in the house. Whether he is in the house or out of it, we must hear of him. While we have ought, he must never want. The Earl stared at his daughter. The Earl was a man of large possessions and did not as yet understand that he was to be called upon to share them with Phineas Finn. I know, Papa, you will never think ill of me. Never, my dear. I have sworn that I will be a sister to that man and I will keep my oath. I know you are a very good sister to children, said the Earl. Lady Laura had at one time appropriated her whole fortune, which had been large to the payment of her brother's debts. The money had been returned and had gone to her husband. Lord Brentford now supposed that she intended at some future time to pay the debts of Phineas Finn. End of Chapter 12. Chapter 13 of Phineas Redux. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Denise Lacey. Phineas Redux by Anthony Trollop. Chapter 13. I have got the seat. When Phineas returned to London, the autumn session, though it had been carried on so near to Christmas as to make many members very unhappy, had already been over for a fortnight. Mr. Daubany had played his game with consummate skill to the last. He had brought in no bill, but had stated his intention of doing so early in the following session. He had, he said, of course been aware from the first that it would have been quite impossible to carry such a measure as that proposed during the few weeks in which it had been possible for them to sit between the convening of parliament and the Christmas holidays. But he thought that it was expedient that the propositions should be named to the house and ventilated as it had been so that members on both sides might be induced to give their most studious attention to the subject before a measure, which must be so momentous should be proposed to them. As had happened, the unforeseen division to which the house had been pressed on the address had proved that the majority of the house was in favor of the great reform, which it was the object of his ambition to complete. They were aware that they had been assembled at a somewhat unusual and inconvenient period of the year because the service of the country had demanded that certain money bills should be passed. He, however, rejoiced greatly that this earliest opportunity had been afforded to him of explaining the intentions of the government with which he had the honor of being connected. In answer to this, there arose a perfect torrent of almost vituperative antagonism from the opposite side of the house. Did the right honorable gentleman dare to say that the question had been ventilated in the country when it had never been broached by him or any of his followers till after the general election had been completed? Was it not notorious to the country that the first hand of it had been given when the right honorable gentleman was elected for East Barsonshire? And was it not equally notorious that the election had been so arranged that the marvelous proposition of the right honorable gentleman should not even be known to his own party till there remained no possibility of the expression of any condemnation from the hustings? It might be that the right honorable could so rule his own followers in that house as to carry them with him even in a matter so absolutely opposite to their own most cherished convictions. It certainly seemed that he had succeeded in doing so for the present. But would anyone believe that he would have carried the country had he dared to face the country with such a measure in his hands? Ventilation indeed. He had not dared to ventilate his proposition. He had used this short session in order that he might keep his clutch fastened on power and in doing so was indifferent alike to the Constitution, to his party, and to the country. Harder words had never been spoken in the house than were uttered on this occasion. But the minister was successful. He had been supported on the address and he went home to East Barsonshire at Christmas perhaps with some little fear of Parsons around him but with full conviction that he would at last carry his second reading of the bill. London was more than usually full and busy this year immediately after Christmas. It seemed as though it were admitted by all the Liberal Party generally that the sadness of the occasion ought to rob the season of its usual festivities. Who could eat mince pies or think of twelfth night while so terribly wicked a scheme was in progress for keeping the real majority out in the cold. It was the injustice of the thing that rankled so deeply that and a sense of inferiority to the cleverness displayed by Mr. Dobbany. It was as when a player is checkmated by some audacious combination of two pawns and a knight such being all the remaining forces of the victorious adversary when the beaten man has two castles and a queen upon the board. It was indeed worse than this for the adversary had appropriated to his own use the castles and the queen of the unhappy vanquished one. This church reform was the legitimate property of the Liberals and had not been as yet used by them only because they had felt it right to keep in the background for some future great occasion so great and so valuable a piece of ordinance. It was theirs so safely that they could afford to buy their time and then so they all said and so some of them believed the country was not ready for so great a measure. It must come but there must be tenderness in the mode of producing it. The Parsons must be respected and the great church of England feeling of the people must be considered with affectionate regard. Even the most rabid dissenter would hardly wish to see a structure so nearly divine attacked and destroyed by rude hands. With grave and slow and sober earnestness with loving touches and soft caressing manipulation let the beautiful old church be laid to its rest as something too exquisite, too lovely, too refined for the present rough manners of the world. Such were the ideas as to church reform of the leading Liberals of the day and now this man without even a majority to back him this audacious caliostro among statesmen this destructive leader of all declared conservatives had come forward without a moment's warning and pretended that he would do the thing out of hand. Men knew that it had to be done. The country had begun to perceive that the old establishment must fall and knowing this would not the liberal backbone of Great Britain perceive the enormity of this caliostro's wickedness and rise against him and bury him beneath its scorn as it ought to do this was the feeling that made a real Christmas impossible to Monsieur's Rattler and Bonteen. The one thing incredible to me said Mr. Rattler is that Englishmen should be so mean. He was alluding to the conservatives who had shown their intention of supporting Mr. Dabony and whom he accused of doing so simply with a view to power and patronage without any regard to their own consistency or to the welfare of the country. Mr. Rattler probably did not correctly read the minds of the men whom he was accusing and did not perceive as he should have done with his experience how little there was among them of concerted action. To defend the church was a duty to each of them but then so also was it a duty to support his party and each one could see his way to the one duty whereas the other was vague and too probably ultimately impossible. If it were proper to throw off the incubus of this conjurer's authority surely some wise and great and bold men would get up and so declare. Some Junto of wise men of the party would settle that he should be deposed but where were they to look for the wise and bold men where even for the Junto of whom did the party consist of honest chivalrous and enthusiastic men but mainly of men who were idle and unable to take upon their own shoulders the responsibility of real work. Their leaders had been selected from the outside clever eager pushing men but of late had hardly been selected from among themselves. As used to be the case with Italian powers they entrusted their cause to mercenary foreign generals soldiers of fortune who carried their good swords whether they were wanted and as of old the leaders were ever ready to fight but would themselves declare what should be and what should not be the case of spell I. There was not so much meanness as Mr. Rattler supposed in the conservative ranks but very much more unhappiness. Would it not be better to go home and live at the family park all the year round and hunt into 10 quarter sessions and be able to declare morning and evening with a clear conscience that the country was going to the dogs? Such was the mental working of many a conservative who supported Mr. Dabini on this occasion. At the instance of Lady Lara Phineas called upon the Duke of St. Bungie soon after his return and was very kindly received by his grace. In former days when there were wigs instead of liberals it was almost a rule of political life that all leading wigs should be uncles, brothers-in-law, or cousins to each other. This was pleasant and gave great consistency to the party but the system has now gone out of vogue. There remain of it however some traces so that among the nobler born liberals of the day there is still a good deal of agreeable family connection. In this way the St. Bungie Fitzhowards were related to the mild maze and the standishes and such a man as Barrington Earl was sure to be cousin to all of them. Lady Lara had thus only sent her friend to a relation of her own and as the Duke and Phineas had been in the same government his grace was glad enough to receive the returning aspirant. Of course there was something said at first as to the life of the Earl at Dresden. The Duke recollected the occasion of such banishment and shook his head and attempted to look unhappy when the wretched condition of Mr. Kennedy was reported to him. But he was essentially a happy man and shook off the gloom at once when Phineas spoke of politics. So you were coming back to us Mr. Finn? They tell me I may perhaps get the seat. I am heartily glad for you were very useful. I remember how Cantrip almost cried when he told me you were going to leave him. He had been rather put upon I fancy before. There was perhaps something in that your grace. There will be nothing to return to now beyond baron honors. Not for a while. Not for a long while said the Duke. For a long while that is as candidates for the office regard time. Mr. Dobby will be safe for this session at least. I doubt whether he will really attempt to carry his measure this year. He will bring it forward and after the late division he must get his second reading. He can break down gracefully in committee and declare that the importance of the interest concerned demands further inquiry. It wasn't a thing to be done in one year. Why should he do it at all asked Phineas? That's what everybody asks. But the answer seems to be so plain because he can do it and we can't. He will get from our side much support and we should get none from his. There is something to me sickening in their dishonesty said Phineas energetically. The country has the advantage and I don't know that they are dishonest. Fought we to come to a deadlock in legislation in order that parties might fight out their battle till one is killed the other. I don't think a man should support a measure which he believes to be destructive. He doesn't believe it to be destructive. The belief is theoretic or not even quite that. It is hardly more than romantic. As long as acres are dear and he can retain those belonging to him. The country gentlemen will never really believe his country to be in danger. It is the same with commerce. As long as the 3% do not really mean 4% I may say as long as they don't mean 5% the country will be rich though everyone should swear that it be ruined. I'm very glad at the same time that I don't call myself a conservative. Said Phineas. That shows how disinterested you are as you certainly would be in office. Goodbye. Come and see the Duchess when she comes to town and if you've nothing better to do give us a day or two at Long Royston at Easter. Now Long Royston was the Duke's well-known country seat at which Whig Hospitality had been dispensed with the lavish hand for two centuries. On the 20th January Phineas traveled down to Tancerville again in obedience to a summons served upon him at the instants of the judge who was to try his petition against Browboro. It was the special and somewhat unusual nature of this petition that the complainants not only sought to oust the sitting member but also to give the seat to the late unsuccessful candidate. There was to be a scrutiny by which if it should be successful so great a number of votes would be deducted from those polled on behalf of the unfortunate Mr. Browboro as to leave a majority for his opponent with the additional disagreeable obligation upon him of paying the cost of the transaction by which he would thus lose his seat. Mr. Browboro, no doubt, looked upon the whole thing with the greatest disgust. He thought that a battle, when once one, should be regarded as over till the occasion should come for another battle. He had spent his money like a gentleman and higged these mean ways. No one could ever say that he had ever petitioned. That was his way of looking at it. That chivalry of his as to the prospects of England and the church of her people had, no doubt, made the house less agreeable to him during the last short session than usual. But he had stuck to his party and voted with Mr. Dobiny on the address. The obligation for such vote, having inconveniently pressed itself upon him before the presentation of the petition had been formally completed. He had always stuck to his party. It was the pride of his life that he had been true and consistent. He also was summoned to Tankerville and he was forced to go although he knew that the chivaleth would be thrown in his teeth. Mr. Browborough spent two or three very uncomfortable days at Tankerville whereas Phineas was triumphant. There were worse things in store for poor Mr. Browborough than his repudiated chivaleth or even than his lost seat. Mr. Ruddles, acting with wondrous energy, succeeded in knocking off the necessary votes and succeeded also in proving that these votes were void by reason of gross bribery. He astonished Phineas by the cool effrontery with which he took credit to himself for not having purchased votes in the fall gate on the liberal side. But Phineas was too wise to remind him that he himself had hinted at one time that it would be well to lay out a little money in that way. No one at the present moment was more clear than was Ruddles as to the necessity of purity at elections. Not a penny had been misspent by the Phineites. A vote or two from their score was knocked off on grounds which did not touch the candidate or his agents. One man had personated a vote but this appears to have been done at the instigation of some very cunning Browborough partisan. Another man had been wrongly described. This however amounted to nothing. Phineas Finn was seated for the borough and the judge declared his purpose of recommending the House of Commons to issue a commission with reference to the expediency of instituting a prosecution. Mr. Browborough left the town in great disgust not without various publicly expressed intimations from his opponents that the prosperity of England depended upon the church of her people. Phineas was gloriously entertained by the liberals of the borough and then informed that as so much had been done for him it was hoped that he would now open his pockets on behalf of the charities of the town. Gentlemen said Phineas to one or two of the leading liberals it is as well that you should know at once that I am a very poor man. The leading liberals made rye faces but Phineas was member for the borough. The moment that the decision was announced Phineas shaking off for the time his congratulatory friends hurried to the post office and sent his message to Lady Laura Standish saying, I have got the seat. He was almost ashamed of himself as the telegraph boy looked up at him when he gave in the words but this was a task which he could not have entrusted to anyone else. He almost thought that this was in truth the proudest and happiest moment of his life. She would so thoroughly enjoy his triumph would receive from it such great and unselfish joy that he almost wished that he could have taken the message himself. Surely had he done so there would have been fit occasion for another embrace. He was again a member of the British House of Commons was again in possession of that privilege for which he had never ceased to sigh since the moment in which he lost it. A drunkard or a gambler may be weaned from his ways but not a politician. To have been in the house and not to be there was to such a one as Phineas Phine necessarily a state of discontent but now he had worked his way up again and he was determined that no fears for the future should harass him. He would give his heart and soul to the work while his money lasted. It would surely last him for the session. He was all alone in the world and would trust to the chapter of accidents for the future. I never knew a fellow with such luck as yours said Barrington Earl to him on his return to London. A seat always drops into your mouth and the circumstances seem to be most forlorn. I have been lucky certainly. My cousin Laura Kennedy has been writing to me about you. I went over to see them you know. So I heard she talks some nonsense about the Earl being willing to do anything for you. What could the Earl do? He has no more influence in the Lothan borough than I have. All that kind of thing is clean done for with one or two exceptions. We got much better men while it lasted than we do now. I should doubt that. We did. Much truer men. Men who went straighter. By the by Phineas we must have no tricks on this church matter. We mean to do all we can to throw out the second reading. You know what I said at the Hustings. D. Blank. The Hustings. I know what Brow Borough said and Brow Borough voted like a man with his party. You were against the church at the Hustings and he was for it. You will vote just the other way. There will be a little confusion but the people of Tancreville will never remember the particulars. I don't know if I can do that. By heavens if you don't you shall never more be officer of ours. Though Laura Kennedy should cry her eyes out. End of Chapter 13 Chapter 14 of Phineas redux. This is a letter from the Archbishop Phineas redux. This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Leanne Howlett Phineas redux by Anthony Trollop Chapter 14 Trumpton Wood In the meantime the hunting season was going on in the break country and it was a very tough time for the country to be successful. There had arisen the great Trumpton Wood question about which the sporting world was doomed to hear so much for the next 12 months and Lord Chiltern was in an unhappy state of mind. Trumpton Wood belonged to that old friend of ours, the Duke of Omnium who had now almost fallen into second childhood. It was quite out of the question that the Duke should himself but Lord Chiltern, with head-strong resolution, had persisted in writing to the Duke himself. Foxes had always hitherto been preserved in Trumpton Wood and the earths had always been stopped on receipt of due notice by the keepers. During the cubbing season there had arisen quarrels. The keepers complained that no effort was made to kill the foxes. Lord Chiltern swore that the earths were not stopped. Then there came tidings of a terrible calamity. A dying fox with a trap to its pad was found in the outskirts of the Wood and Lord Chiltern wrote to the Duke. He drew the wood in regular course before any answer could be received and three of his hounds picked up poison and died beneath his eyes. He wrote to the Duke again a cutting letter and then came from the Duke's man of business, Mr. Father Gill in a very short reply which Lord Chiltern regarded as an insult. Hitherto the affair had not got into the sporting papers and was simply a matter of angry discussion at every meet in the neighboring counties. Lord Chiltern was very full of wrath and always looked as though he desired to avenge those poor hounds on the Duke and all belonging to him. To a master of hounds the poisoning of one of his pack is murder there probably never was a master who in his heart of hearts would not think it right that a detected culprit should be hung for such an offense and most masters would go further than this and declare that in the absence of such detection the owner of the covert in which the poison had been picked up should be held to be responsible. In this instance the condition of ownership was unfortunate. The Duke himself was old, feeble and almost imbecile. He had never been imminent as a sportsman but in a not energetic manner he had endeavored to do his duty by the country. His heir, Plantagenet Palacer was simply a statesman who as regarded himself had never a day to spare for amusement and who in reference to sport had unfortunate fantastic notions that pheasants and rabbits destroyed crops and that foxes were injurious to old women's poultry. He, however, was not the owner and had refused to interfere. There had been family quarrels, too, adverse to the sporting interests of the younger palacer scions so that the shooting of this wood had drifted into the hands of Mr. Father Gill and his friends. Now Lord Chiltern had settled it in his own mind that the hounds had been poisoned if not in compliance with Mr. Father Gill's orders at any rate in furtherance of his wishes and could he have had his way he certainly would have sent Mr. Father Gill to the gallows. Now Miss Palacer who was still staying at Lord Chiltern's house was nieced to the old Duke and first cousin to the heir. They are nothing to me, she once said, when Lord Chiltern had attempted to apologize for the abuse he was heaping on her relatives. I haven't seen the Duke since I was a little child when I came right to meet him. So much the more gracious is your condition, said Lady Chiltern, at any rate in Oswald's estimation. I know them and once spent a couple of days at matching with them, said Lord Chiltern. The Duke is an old fool who always gave himself greater heirs than any other man in England and as far as I can see with less to excuse them. As for Planty Paul essentially to different orders of things that we can hardly be reckoned as being both men. And which is the man, Lord Chiltern? Whichever you please, my dear, only not both. Doggot was over there yesterday and found three separate traps. What did he do with the traps? said Lady Chiltern. I wasn't fool enough to ask him, but I don't in the least doubt he would throw the water or that he'd throw pallets through there too if he could get hold of him. As for taking the hounds to Trumpton again I wouldn't do it if there was not another covered in the country. Then leave it so and have done with it, said his wife. I wouldn't fret as you do for what another man did with his own property for all the foxes in England. That is because you understand nothing of hunting, my dear. A man's property is his own in one sense, and his own in another. A man can't do what he likes with his coverts. He can cut them down, but he can't let another pack hunt them and he can't hunt them himself. If he's in a hunting county he is bound to preserve foxes. What binds him, Oswald? A man can't be bound without a penalty. I should think at penalty enough for everybody to hate me. What are you going to do when he is Finn? I have asked him to come on the first and stay till Parliament meets. And is that woman coming? There are two or three women coming. She with the German name, whom you made me dine with in Park Lane. Madame Max Giesler is coming. She brings her own horses and they will stand at dockets. They can't stand here for there is not a stall. I am so sorry that my poor little fellow should incommode you," said Miss Palliser. You're a licensed offender, though upon my honour I don't know whether I ought to give a feed of oats to anyone having a connection with Trumpton Wood, and Wood is finniest to ride. He shall ride my horses, said Lady Children, whose present condition in life rendered hunting inopportune to her. Neither of them would carry him a mile. He wants about as good an animal as you can put him upon. I don't know what I'm to do. It's all very well for Laura to say that he must be mounted. You wouldn't refuse to give Mr. Finn a mount," said Lady Children, almost with dismay. I'd give him my right hand to ride, only it wouldn't carry him. I can't make horses. Harry brought home that brown mare on Tuesday with an overreach that she won't get over this season. What the deuce they do with their horses to knock them about so I can't understand. I have killed horses in my time and ridden them to a stand still, but I never bruised them and battered them about as these fellows do. Then I'd better write to Mr. Finn and tell him," said Lady Children, very gravely. "'Oh, finniest Finn,' said Lord Children. "'Oh, finniest Finn! What a pity it was that you and I didn't see the matter out when we stood opposite to each other on the sands at Blankenburg.' "'Oswald,' said his wife, getting up and putting her arm over his shoulder. "'You know you would give your best horse to Mr. Finn as long as he chose to stay here, though you rode upon a donkey yourself.' "'I know that if I didn't, you would,' said Lord Children, and so the matter was settled. At night, when they were alone together, there was further discussion as to the visitors who were coming to Harrington Hall. "'Is Gerard Mall to come back?' asked the husband. "'I have asked him. He left his horses at doggits, you know.' "'I didn't know.' "'I certainly told you, Oswald. Do you object to his coming? You can't really mean that you care about his riding.' "'It isn't that. You must have some whipping-post, and he's as good as another. But he shilly-shallies about that girl. I hate all that stuff like poison.' "'All men are not so abrupt, shall I say, as you were.' "'I had something to say, and I said it. When I had said it a dozen times, I got to have it believed. He doesn't say it as though he meant to have it believed.' "'You were always an earnest Oswald.' "'I was.' "'To the extent of the three minutes which you allowed yourself. It sufficed, however, did it not? You were glad you persevered?' "'What fools women are!' "'Never mind that. Say you were glad. I like you to tell me so. Let me be a fool if I will. What made you so obstinate?' "'I don't know. I never could tell. It wasn't that I didn't dot upon you and think about you and feel quite sure that there never could be any other one than you.' "'I've no doubt it was all right. Only you very nearly made me shoot a fellow, and now I've got to find horses for him. I wonder whether he could ride dandolo. Don't put him up on anything very hard.' "'Why not? His wife is dead, and he hasn't got a child, nor yet an acre of property. I don't know who is entitled to break his neck if he is not. And dandolo is as good a horse as there is in the stable if you can once get him to go. Mind, I have to start tomorrow at nine for it's all eighteen miles.' And so the master of the break-hounds took himself to his repose. Lady Laura Kennedy had written to Barrington Earl respecting her friend's political interests and to her sister-in-law Lady Chiltern as to his social comfort. She could not bear to think that he should be left alone in London till Parliament should meet, and had therefore appealed to Lady Chiltern as to the memory of many past events. The appeal had been unnecessary and superfluous. It cannot be said that Phineas and his affairs were matters of as close an interest to Lady Chiltern as to Lady Laura. If any woman loved her husband beyond all things, Lord Chiltern's wife and ever had done so. But there had been a tenderness in regard to the young Irish member of Parliament which Violet Effingham had in old days shared with Lady Laura and which made her now think that all good things should be done for him. She believed him to be addicted to hunting, and therefore horses must be provided for him. He was a widower, and she remembered of old that he was fond of pretty women and she knew that in coming days he might probably want money. And therefore she had asked Madame Max Giesler to spend a fortnight at Harrington Hall. Madame Max Giesler and Phineas Finn had been acquainted before as Lady Chiltern was well aware. But perhaps Lady Chiltern when she summoned Madame Max into the country did not know how close the acquaintance had been. Madame Max came a couple of days before Phineas and was taken out hunting on the morning after her arrival. She was a lady who could ride to Hounds and who indeed could do nearly anything to which she set her mind. She was dark, thin, healthy, good-looking, clever, ambitious, rich, unsatisfied, perhaps unscrupulous, but not without a conscience. As has been told in a former portion of this Chronicle she could always seem to be happy with her companion of the day and yet there was ever present a gnawing desire to do something more and something better than she had as yet achieved. Of course as he took her to the meet Lord Chiltern told her his grievance respecting Trumpton Wood. But my dear Lord Chiltern you must not abuse the Duke of Omnium to me. Why not to you? He and I are sworn friends. He's a hundred years old. And why shouldn't I have a friend a hundred years old? And as for Mr. Palliser he knows no more of your foxes than I know of his taxes. Why don't you write to Lady Glencora? She understands everything. Is she a friend of yours too? My particular friend. She and I, you know, look after the poor dear Duke between us. I can understand why she should sacrifice herself. But not why I do. I can't explain it myself. But so it is come to me that I may not have a friend a hundred years old. I know myself. But so it is come to pass and I must not hear the Duke abused. May I write to Lady Glencora about it? Certainly, if you please. But not as giving her any message from me. Her uncle's property is mismanaged most damnably. If you choose to tell her that I say so you can. I'm not going to ask anything as a favour. I never do ask favours. One of them should do one of two things. They should either stand by the hunting or they should let it alone. And they should say what they mean. I like to know my friends and I like to know my enemies. I am sure the Duke is not your enemy, Lord Chiltern. These palacers have always been running with the hare and hunting with the hounds. They are greater aristocrats and yet are always going in for the people. I'm told that Planty Powell is a fox hunting barbarous. Why doesn't he say so out loud and stub up Trumpton Wood and grow corn? Perhaps he will when Trumpton Wood belongs to him. I should like that much better than poisoning hounds and trapping foxes. When they got to the meat conclaves of men might be seen gathered together here and there and in each conclave they were telling something new or something old or something different at Trumpton Wood. On that evening before dinner Madame Giesler was told by her hostess that Phineas Finn was expected on the following day. The communication was made quite as a matter of course but Lady Chiltern had chosen a time in which the lights were shaded and the room was dark. Adelaide Palacer was present as was also a certain Lady Baldock not that Lady Baldock was the poor Phineas but her son's wife. They were drinking tea together over the fire and the dim lights were removed from the circle. This no doubt was simply an accident but the gloom served Madame Giesler during one moment of embarrassment. An old friend of yours is coming here to-morrow said Lady Chiltern. An old friend of mine shall I call my friend Mr. Finn. That was the moment in which Madame Giesler rejoiced that no strong glare of light fell upon her face but she was a woman who would not long leave herself subject to any such embarrassment. Surely she said confining herself at first to the single word. He is coming here. He is a great friend of mine. He always was a good friend of yours, Lady Chiltern. And of yours too, Madame Max. A sort of general friend I think was Mr. Finn in the old days. I hope you will be glad to see him. Oh, dear, yes. I thought him very nice, said Adelaide Palliser. I remember Mama saying before she was Mama, you know, said Lady Baldock, that Mr. Finn was very nice indeed, only he was a papist and only he had got no money and only he would fall in love with everybody. Does he go on falling in love with people while it? Never with married women, my dear. He has had a wife himself since that, Madame Giesler, and the poor thing died. And now here he is, beginning all over again, said Lady Baldock. And as pleasant as ever, said her cousin. You know he has done all manner of things for our family. He picked all's walled up once after one of those terrible hunting accidents and he saved Mr. Kennedy when men were murdering him. That was questionable kindness, said Lady Baldock. And he sat for Lord Brentford's burrow. How good of him, said Miss Palliser. And he has done all manner of things, said Lady Chiltern. Didn't he once fight a duel? Asked Madame Giesler. That was the grandest thing of all, said his friend. For he didn't shoot somebody whom he perhaps might have shot had he been as bloodthirsty as somebody else. And now he has come back to Parliament and all that kind of thing and he's coming here to hunt. I hope he'll be glad to see him, Madame Giesler. I shall be very glad to see him, said Madame Giesler slowly. I heard about his success at that town and I knew that I should meet him somewhere. End of Chapter 14 Recording by Leanne Howlett. It was necessary also that some communication should be made to Phineas so that he might not come across Madame Giesler unawares. Lady Chiltern was more alive to that necessity than she had been to the other and felt that the gentleman, if not warned of what was to take place, would be much more likely than the lady to be awkward at the trying moment. Madame Giesler would in any circumstances be sure to recover her self-possession very quickly, even were she to lose it for a moment. But so much could hardly be said for the social powers of Phineas Phin. Lady Chiltern therefore contrived to see him alone for a moment on his arrival. Who do you think is here? Lady Laura has not come. Indeed no, I wish she had. An old friend, but not so old as Laura. I cannot guess, not Lord Fawn. Lord Fawn, what would Lord Fawn do here? Don't you know that Lord Fawn goes nowhere since his last matrimony will trouble? It's a friend of yours, not of mine. Madame Gossler, whispered Phineas, how well you knew when I said it was a friend of yours. Madame Gossler is here, not altered in the least. Madame Gossler, does it annoy you? Oh no, why should it annoy me? You never quarreled with her. Never. There is no reason why you should not meet her. None at all. Only I was surprised. Did she know that I was coming? I told her yesterday. I hope that I have not done wrong or made things unpleasant. I knew that you used to be friends. And as friends we parted, Lady Children, he had nothing more to say in the matter, nor had she. He could not tell the story of what had taken place between himself and the lady, and she could not keep herself from surmising that something had taken place, which had she known it, would have prevented her from bringing the two together at Harrington. Madame Gossler, when she was dressing, acknowledged to herself that she had a task before her which would require all her tact and all her courage. She certainly would not have accepted Lady Children's invitation, had she known that she would encounter Phineas Finn at the house. She had twenty-four hours to think of it, and at one time had almost made up her mind that some sudden business should recall her to London. Of course her motive would be suspected. Of course Lady Children would connect her departure with the man's arrival. But even that, bad as it would be, might be preferable to the meeting. What a fool had she been, so she accused herself in not foreseeing that such an accident might happen, knowing as she did that Phineas Finn had reappeared in the political world, and that he and the children people had ever been fast friends. As she had thought about it lying awake at night, she had told herself that she must certainly be recalled back to London by business. She would telegraph up to town, raising a question about any trifle, and on receipt of the answer she could be off with something of an excuse. The shame of running away from the man seemed to be a worse evil than the shame of meeting him. She had in truth done nothing to disgrace herself. In her desire to save a man whom she had loved from the ruin which she thought had threatened him, she had offered him her hand. She had made the offer, and he had refused it. That was all. No, she would not be driven to confess to herself that she had ever fled from the face of man or woman. This man would be again in London, and she could not always fly. It would be only necessary that she should maintain her own composure, and the misery of the meeting would pass away after the first few minutes. One consolation was assured to her. She thoroughly believed in the man, feeling certain that he had not betrayed her and would not betray her. But now, as the time for the meeting drew near, as she stood for a moment before the glass pretending to look at herself in order that her maid might not remark her uneasiness, she found that her courage, great as it was, hardly sufficed her. She almost plotted some scheme of a headache, by which she might be enabled not to show herself till after dinner. I am so blind that I can hardly see out of my eyes, she said to the maid, actually beginning the scheme. The woman assumed a look of painful solicitude and declared that Madame did not look quite her best. I suppose I shall shake it off, said Madame Ghostler, and then she descended the stairs. The condition of Phineas Finn was almost as bad, but he had a much less protracted period of anticipation than that with which the lady was tormented. He was sent up to dress for dinner with the knowledge that in half an hour he would find himself in the same room with Madame Ghostler. There could be no question of his running away, no possibility even, of his escaping by a headache. But it may be doubted whether his dismay was not even more than hers. She knew that she could teach herself to use no other than fitting words, and was almost sure that he would break down if he attempted to speak to her. She would be safe from blushing, but he would assuredly become red as a turkey cox comb up to the roots of his hair. Her blood would be under control, but his would be coursing hither and thither through his veins so as to make him utterly unable to rule himself. Nevertheless, he also plucked up his courage and descended, reaching the drying-room before Madame Ghostler had entered it. Chiltern was going on about trumpet and wood to Lord Baldock, and was renewing his fury against all the palisers while Adelaide stood by and laughed. Gerard Mall was lounging on a chair, wondering that any man could expend such energy on such a subject. Lady Chiltern was explaining the merits of the case to Lady Baldock, who knew nothing about hunting, and the other guests were listening with eager attention. A certain Mr. Spooner, who rode hard and did nothing else, and who acted as an unacknowledged assistant master under Lord Chiltern—there is such a man in every hunt— acted as chorus, and indicated chiefly with dumb show the strong points of the case. Finn, how are you, said Lord Chiltern, stretching out his left hand? Glad to have you back again, and congratulate you about the seat. It was put down in red herrings, and we found nearly a dozen of them afterwards, enough to kill half the pack. Picked up nine, said Mr. Spooner. Children might have picked them up quite as well, and eaten them, said Lady Chiltern. They didn't care about that, continued the master. And now they've wires and craps over the whole place. Palacers are a friend of yours, isn't he, Finn? Of course I knew him, when I was in office. I don't know what he may be in office, but he's an uncommon bad sort of fellow to have in a county. Shameful, said Mr. Spooner, lifting up both his hands. This is my first cousin, you know, whispered Adelaide to Lady Baldock. If he were my own brother or my grandmother, I should say the same, continued the angry Lord. We must have a meeting about it, and let the world know it. That's all. At this moment the door was again opened, and Madame Ghostler entered the room. When one wants to be natural of necessity, one becomes the reverse of natural. A clever actor, or more frequently a clever actress, will assume the appearance, but the very fact of the assumption renders the reality impossible. Lady Chiltern was generally very clever in the arrangement of all little social difficulties, and she thought less about it, might probably have managed the present affair in an easy and graceful manner. But the thing had weighed upon her mind, and she had decided that it would be expedient that she should say something when those two old friends first met each other again in her drawing-room. Madame Mack, she said, You remember Mr. Finn? Lord Chiltern for a moment stopped the torrent of his abuse. Lord Baldock made a little effort to look uninterested, but quite in vain. Mr. Spooner stood on one side. Lord Baldock stared with all her eyes, with some feeling of instinct that there would be something to see. And Gerard Mall, rising from the sofa, joined the circle. It seemed as though Lady Chiltern's words had caused the formation of a ring in the midst of which Phineas and Madame Ghostler were to renew their acquaintance. Very well indeed, said Madame Mack, putting out her hand and looking full into our hero's face with her sweetest smile. And I hope Mr. Finn will not have forgotten me. She did it admirably, so well that surely she need not have thought of running away. But poor Phineas was not happy. I shall never forget you, said he. And then that unavoidable blush suffused his face, and the blood began to career through his veins. I am so glad you are in Parliament again, said Madame Mack's. Yes, I've got in again after a struggle. Are you still living in Park Lane? Oh, yes, and she'll be most happy to see you. Then she seated herself, as did also Lady Chiltern by her side. I see the poor Duke's iniquities are still under discussion. I hope Lord Chiltern recognizes the great happiness of having a grievance. It would be a pity that so great a blessing should be thrown away upon him. For the moment Madame Mack's had got through her difficulty, and indeed had done so altogether till the moment should come in which she should find herself alone with Phineas. But he slumped back from the gathering before the fire, and stood solitary and silent till dinner was announced. It became his fate to take an old woman into dinner who was not very clear-sighted. Did you know that lady before? She asked. Oh yes, I knew her two or three years ago in London. Do you think she's pretty? Certainly. All the men say so, but I never can see it. They have been saying ever so long that the old Duke of Omnium means to marry her on his deathbed. But I don't suppose there can be anything in it. Why should he put it off for so very soon an occasion? Ask Phineas. End of Chapter 15 Chapter 16 of Phineas Redux This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Denise Lacey Phineas Redux by Anthony Trollup Chapter 16 Copperhouse Cross and Broughton Spinnies After all, the thing had not been so very bad. With a little courage and hardyhood, we can survive very great catastrophes and go through them even without broken bones. Phineas, when he got up to his room, found that he had spent the evening in company with Madame Gosler and had not suffered materially except at the very first moment of the meeting. He had not said a word to the lady except such as were spoken in mixed conversation with her and others. But they had been together and no bones had been broken. It could not be that his old intimacy should be renewed, but he could now encounter her in society as the fates might direct without a renewal of that feeling of dismay which had been so heavy on him. He was about to undress when there came a knock at the door and his host entered the room. What do you mean to do about smoking? Lord Shiltern asked. Nothing at all. There's a fire in the smoking room, but I'm tired and I want to go to bed. Baldock doesn't smoke. Gerard Mall is smoking in his own room, I take it. You'll probably find Spooner at this moment established somewhere in the back slums having a pipe with old dogged and planning retribution. You can join them if you please. Not tonight, I think. They wouldn't trust me and I should spoil their plans. They certainly wouldn't trust you or any other human being. You don't mind a horse that balks a little, do you? I'm not going to hunt children. Yes, you are. I've got it all arranged. Don't you be a fool and make us all uncomfortable? Everybody rides here. Every man, woman, and child about the place. You shall have one of the best horses I've got. Only you must be particular about your spurs. Indeed, I'd rather not. The truth is, I can't afford to ride my own horses and therefore I'd rather not ride my friends. Ah, that's all gammon. When Violet wrote she told you you'd be expected to come out. Your old flame Madam Max will be there and I tell you she has a very pretty idea of keeping to hounds. Only Dandelion has that little defect. Is Dandelion the horse? Yes, Dandelion is the horse. He's up to a stone over your weight and can do any mortal thing within a horse's compass. Cops won't ride him because he balks and so he has come into my stable. If you'll only let him know that you're on his back and have got a pair of spurs on your heels with rowls in them, he'll take you anywhere. Good night, old fellow. You can smoke if you choose, you know. Phineas had resolved that he would not hunt, but, nevertheless, he had brought boots with him and breeches, fancying that if he did not, he would be forced out without those comfortable appurtenances. But there came across his heart a feeling that he had reached a time of his life when it was no longer comfortable for him to live as a poor man with men who were rich. It had been his lot to do so when he was younger and there had been some pleasure in it, but now he would rather live alone and dwell upon memories of the past. He, too, might have been rich and have had courses at command, had he chosen to sacrifice himself for money. On the next morning they started in a huge wagonet for Copperhouse Cross, a meat that was suspiciously near to the Duke's fatal wood. Spooner had explained to Phineas overnight that they never did draw Trumpeton wood on Copperhouse Cross days and that under no possible circumstances would children now draw Trumpeton wood. But there is no saying where a fox may run. At this time of year, just the beginning of February, dog foxes from the big woods were very apt to be away from home and, when found, would go straight for their own earths. It was very possible that they might find themselves in Trumpeton wood and then certainly there would be a row. Spooner shrugged his shoulders and shook his head and seemed to insinuate that Lord Children would certainly do something very dreadful to the Duke or to the Duke's heir if any law of venery should again be found to have been broken on this occasion. The distance to Copperhouse Cross was 12 miles and Phineas found himself placed in the carriage next to Madame Gosler. It had not been done of fixed design but when a party of six are seated in a carriage the chances are that one given person will be next to or opposite to any other given person. Madame Max had remembered this and had prepared herself but Phineas was taken aback when he found how close was his neighborhood to the lady. Get in Phineas said his lordship. Gerard Mall had already seated himself next to Miss Palliser and Phineas had no alternative but to take the place next to Madame Max. I didn't know that you rode to Hounds said Phineas. Oh yes, I have done so for years. When we met it was always in London Mr. Finn and people there never know what other people do. Have you heard of this terrible affair about the Duke? Oh dear yes. Poor Duke. He and I have seen a great deal of each other since since the days when you and I used to meet. He knows nothing about all this and the worst of it is he is not in a condition to be told. Lady Glencora could put it all right. I'll tell Lady Glencora of course said Madame Max. It seems so odd in this country that the owner of a property does not seem at all to have any exclusive right to it. I suppose the Duke could shut up the wood if he liked but they poisoned the hounds. Nobody supposes the Duke did that or even the Duke's servants I should think. But Lord Chiltern will hear us if we don't take care. I've heard every word you've been saying explained Lord Chiltern. Has it been traced to anyone? No, not traced I suppose. What then Lord Chiltern? You may speak out to me. When I'm wrong I like to be told so. Then you're wrong now said Lord Chiltern if you take the part of the Duke or any of his people. He is bound to find foxes for the break hunt. It is almost a part of his title deeds. Instead of doing so he has had them destroyed. It's as bad as boating against the church establishment said Madame Gosler. There was a very large meet at Copperhouse Cross and both Madame Gosler and Phineas Finn found many old acquaintances there. As Phineas had formerly sat in the house for five years and had been in office and had never made himself objectionable either to his friends or adversaries he had been widely known. He now found half a dozen men who were always members of Parliament men who seen though commoners to have been born legislators who all spoke to him as though his being member for Tancreville and hunting with the breakhounds were equally matters of course. They knew him but they knew nothing of the break in his life. Or if they remembered that he had not been seen about the house for the last two or three years they remembered also that accidents do happen to some men. It will occur now and again that a regular denizen of Westminster will get a fall in the political hunting field and have to remain about the world for a year or two without a seat. That Phineas had lately triumphed over Browborough at Tancreville was known the event having been so recent and men congratulated him talking of poor Browborough whose heavy figure had been familiar to them for many a year by no means recognizing that the event of which they spoke had been, as it were, life and death to their friend. Robie was there who was at this moment Mr. Dobbyny's head whip and patronage secretary. If anyone should have felt acutely the exclusion of Mr. Browborough from the house anyone beyond the sufferer himself it should have been Mr. Robie but he made himself quite pleasant and even condescended to be upon the occasion. So you beat poor Browborough in his own borough said Mr. Robie. I beat him said Phineas but not I hope in a borough of his own. He's been there for the last 15 years poor old fellow he's awfully cut up about this church question I shouldn't have thought he'd have taken anything so much to heart there are worse fellows than Browborough let me tell you. What's all this I hear about the Duke poisoning the foxes? But the crowd had begun to move and Phineas was not called upon to answer the question. Copperhouse Cross in the break hunt was a very popular meet it was easily reached by a train from London was in the center of an essentially hunting country was near to two or three good covert and was in itself a pretty spot two roads intersected each other on the middle of Copperhouse Common which as all the world knows lies just on the outskirts of Copperhouse Forest a steep winding hill leads down from the wood to the cross and there is no such thing within sight as an enclosure at the foot of the hill running under the wooden bridge straggles the Copperhouse Brook so called by the hunting men of the present day though men who know the country evolved or rather the county will tell you that it is properly called Copper and that the spacious old farm buildings above were once known as the Copper Manor House he would be a vain man who would now try to change the name as Copperhouse Cross has been printed in all the lists of hunting meets for at least the last 30 years and the ordinance map has utterly rejected the two bees along one of the crossroads there was a broad extent of Common some seven or eight hundred yards in length on which have been erected the butts used by those well-known defenders of their country the Copperhouse Volunteer Rifles and just below the bridge the sluggish water becomes a little lake having probably at some time been artificially widened and there is a little island and a decoy for ducks on the present occasion carriages were drawn up on all the roads and horses were clustered on each side of the Brook and the hounds sat stately on their haunches where riflemen usually kneel to fire and there was a hum of merry voices and the bright coloring of pink coats and the sheen of ladies hunting toilets and that mingled look of business and amusement which is so peculiar to our national sports 200 men and women had come there for the chance of a run after a fox for a chance against which the odds are more than two to one against every hunting day for a chance as to which the odds are 20 to one against the success of the individuals collected and yet for every horseman and every horsewoman there not less than five pounds ahead will have been spent for this one day's amusement when we give a guinea for a stall at the opera we think that we pay a large sum but we are fairly sure of having our music when you go to Copperhouse Cross you are by no means sure why is it that when men and women congregate though the men may beat the women in numbers by 10 to 1 and though they certainly speak the louder the concrete sound that meets the ears of any outside listener is always a sound of women's voices at Copperhouse Cross almost everyone was talking but the feeling left upon the senses was that of an alligam of feminine laughter, feminine affectation and feminine eagerness perhaps at Copperhouse Cross the determined perseverance with which Lady Gertrude fits askily addressed herself to Lord Chiltern to Cox the Huntsman to the two whips and at last to Mr. Spooner may have specially led to the remark on this occasion Lady Chiltern was very short with her, not loving Lady Gertrude Cox bestowed upon her to my ladies and then turned from her to some peckin' pound but Spooner was partly gratified and partly incapable and underwent a long course of questions about the Duke and the poisoning Lady Gertrude, whose father seemed to have owned half the Covert's in Ireland had never before heard of such enormity she suggested a round robin and would not be at all ashamed to put her own name to it oh for the matter of that said Spooner Chiltern can be round enough himself without any robin round said Lady Gertrude with a very serious aspect at last they moved away and Phineas found himself riding by the side of Madame Gosler it was natural that he should do so as he had come with her Maul had of course remained with Miss Palliser and Chiltern and Spooner had taken themselves to their respective duties Phineas might have avoided her but in doing so he would have seemed to avoid her she accepted his presence apparently as a matter of course and betrayed by her words and manner no memory of past scenes it was not customary with them to draw the forest which indeed as it now stood was a forest only in name and they trotted off to a gorse a mile and a half distant this they drew blank then another gorse also blank and two or three little fringes of wood such as there are in every country and through which huntsmen run their hounds conscious that no fox will lie there at one o'clock they had not found and the hilarity of the really hunting men as they ate their sandwiches and lit their cigars was on the decrease the ladies talked more than ever Lady Gertrude's voice was heard above them all and Lord Chiltern trotted on close behind his hounds in obdurate silence when things were going bad with him no one in the field dared speak to him Phineas had never seen his horse till he reached the meet and there found a fine looking very strong bay animal with shoulders like the top of a haystack short bat, short leg with enormous quarters and a wicked looking eye he ought to be strong said Phineas to the groom oh sir strong ain't no word for him said the groom he can carry a house I don't know whether he's fast inquired Phineas he's fast enough for any hound sir said the man with that tone of assurance which always carries conviction and he can jump he can jump continued the groom no horse in the Lord's stables can't beat him but he won't said Phineas it's only sometimes sir and then the best thing is to stick him at it till he do he'll go he will like a shot at last for the day hunting men will know that all this was not quite comfortable when you ride your own horse and know his special defects you also know how far that defect extends and what real prospect you have of overcoming it if he be slow through the mud you keep a good deal on the road in heavy weather and resolve that the present is not an occasion for distinguishing yourself if he be bad at timber hedge if he pulls you get as far from the crowd as may be you gauge your misfortune and make your little calculation as to the best mode of remedying the evil but when you are told that your friend's horse is perfect only that he does this or that there comes a weight on your mind from which you are unable to release it you cannot discount your trouble at any percentage it may amount to absolute ruin as far as that day is concerned and in such a circumstance you always look forward to the worst when the groom had done his description Phineas Spinn would almost have preferred a day's campus at Tankerville under Mr. Ruddle's authority to his present position when the hounds entered Broughton Spinnies Phineas and Madame Gosler were still together he had not been riding actually at her side all morning many men and two or three ladies had been talking to her but he had never been far from her in the ruck and now he was again close by her horse's head Broughton Spinnies were in truth a series of small woods running one into another almost without intermission never thick and of no breath there was always a litter or two of cubs at the place and in no part of the break country was greater care taken in the way of reservation and encouragement to interesting vixens but the lying was bad there was little or no real covert and foxes were very apt to travel and get away into those big woods belonging to the Duke where as the break sportsmen now believed they would almost surely come to an untimely end if we draw this blank I don't know what we are to do said Mr. Spooner addressing himself to Madame Macron's anxiety have you nothing else to draw asked Phineas in the common course of things we should take Muggery Gorse and so on to Trumpeton Wood but Muggery is on the Duke's land and Shiltern isn't such a fix he won't go there unless he can't help it Muggery Gorse is only a mile this side of the big wood and foxes of course go to the big wood asked Madame Max not always they often come here and as they can't hang here we have the whole country before us we get as good runs from Muggery as from any covert in the country but children won't go there today unless the hounds show a line George that's a fox that's Dido that's a find and Spooner galloped away as though Dido could do nothing with the fox she had found unless he was there to help her Spooner was quite right as he generally was on such occasions he knew the hounds even by voice and knew what hound he could believe most hounds will lie occasionally but Dido never lied and there were many besides Spooner who believed in Dido the whole pack rushed to her music though the body of them would have remained utterly unmoved at the voice of any less reverence and less trustworthy colleague the whole wood was at once in commotion man and women riding hither and thither not in accordance with any judgment but as they saw or thought they saw others riding who were supposed to have judgment to get away well is so very much and to get away well is often so very difficult there are so many things of which the horseman is bound to think in that moment which way does the wind blow and then though a fox will not long run upwind he will break covered upwind as often as not from which of the various rides can you find a fair exit into the open country without a chance of breaking your neck before the run begins when you hear some wild hello informing you that one fox has gone in the direction exactly opposite to that in which the hounds are hunting are you sure that the noise is not made about a second fox on all these matters you are bound to make up your mind without losing a moment and if you make up your mind wrongly the five pounds you have invested in that day's amusement will have been spent for nothing Phineas and Madame Gosler were in the very center of the wood when Spooner rushed away from them down one of the rides on hearing Dido's voice and at that time they were in a crowd almost immediately the fox was seen to cross another ride and a body of horseman rushed away in that direction knowing that the covert was small and there the animal must soon leave the wood then there was a shout of away repeated over and over again and lord children running up like a flash of lightning and passing our two friends galloped down a third ride to the right of the others Phineas at once followed the master of the pack and Madame Gosler followed Phineas men were still riding hither and thither and a farmer meeting them the horse turned back toward the center of the wood which they were leaving hallowed out as they passed that there was no way out at the bottom they met another man in pink who screamed out something as to the devil of a bank down there children however was still going on and our hero had not the heart to stop his horse in its gallop and turned back from the direction in which the hounds were running at that moment he hardly remembered the presence of Madame Gosler but he did remember every word that had been said to him about Dandelion he did not in the least doubt but that children had chosen his direction rightly and that if he were once out of the wood he would find himself with the hounds but what if this brute should refuse to take him out of the wood that Dandelion was very fast he soon became aware for he gained upon his friend before him as they near the fence and then he saw what there was before him a new broad ditch had been cut with the express object of preventing egress or ingress at that point and a great bank had been constructed with the clay in all probability there might be a ditch on the other side children however had clearly made up his mind about it the horse he was riding went at it gallantly cleared the first ditch balanced himself for half a moment on the bank and then with a fresh spring got into the field beyond the tailhounds were running past outside the covert and the master had placed himself exactly right for the work in hand how excellent would be the condition of Finn if only Dandelion would do just as children's horse had done before him and Phineas almost began to hope that it might be so the horse was going very well and very willingly his head was stretched out he was pulling not more however than pleasantly and he seemed to be as anxious as his rider but there was a little twitch about his ears which his rider did not like and then it was impossible not to remember that awful warning given by the groom it's only sometimes sir and after what fashion should Phineas ride him at the obstacle he did not like to strike a horse that seemed to be going well as are all good riders to use his heels so he spoke to him and proposed to lift him at the ditch to the very edge the horse galloped too fast indeed if he meant to take the bag as children's horse had done and then stopping himself so suddenly that he must have shaken every joint in his body he planted his four feet on the very brink and there he stood with his head down quivering in every muscle Phineas Phine following naturally the momentum which had been given to him went over the brute's neck head foremost into the ditch Madame Max was immediately off her horse oh Mr. Phine are you hurt but Phineas happily was not hurt he was shaken and dirty but not so shaken and not so dirty but that he was on his legs in a minute imploring his companion not to mind him but go on someone doesn't seem to be so easy said Madame Gosler looking at the ditch as she held her horse in her hand but to go back in such circumstances is a terrible disaster it amounts to a complete defeat and is tantamount to a confession that you must go home because you are unable to ride to hounds a man when he is compelled to do this is almost driven to resolve at the spur of the moment that he will give up hunting for the rest of his life and if one thing be more essential than any other to the horseman in general it is that he and not the animal which he rides shall be the master the best thing is to stick him at it till he do the groom had said and Phineas resolved to be guided by the groom but his first duty was to attend on Madame Gosler with very little assistance she was again in her saddle and she at once declared herself certain that her horse could take the fence Phineas again instantly jumped into his saddle and turning Dandolo again at the ditch rammed the rowls into the horse's sides but Dandolo would not jump yet he stood with his four feet on the brink and when Phineas with his whip struck him severely over the shoulders he went down into the ditch on all fours and then scrambled back again to his former position what an infernal brute said Phineas gnashing his teeth he is a little obstinate Mr. Finn I wonder whether he'd jump if I gave him a lead but Phineas was again making the attempt urging the horse with spurs, whip and voice he had brought himself now to that condition in which a man is utterly reckless as to falling himself or even to the kind of fall he may get if he can only force his animal to make the attempt but Dandolo would not make the attempt with ears down and head out stretched he either stuck obstinately on the brink or allowed himself to be forced again and again into the ditch let me try it once Mr. Finn said Madame Ghostler in her quiet way she was riding a small horse very nearly thoroughbred and known as a perfect hunter by those who habitually saw Madame Ghostler ride no doubt he would have taken the fence readily enough had his rider followed immediately after Lord Altern but Dandolo had balked at the fence nearly a dozen times and evil communications will corrupt good manners without any show of violence but still with persistent determination Madame Ghostler's horse also declined to jump she put him at it again and again and he would make no slightest attempt to do his business Phineas raging fuming out of breath miserably unhappy shaking his wings plying his whip rattling himself about in the saddle and banging his legs against the horse's sides again and again plunged away at the obstacle but it was all to no purpose Dandolo was constantly in the ditch sometimes lying with the slide against the bank and now had been so hustled and driven that had he been on the other side he would have had no breath left to carry his rider even in the ruck of the hunt in the meantime the hounds and the leading horsemen were far away never more to be seen on that day by either Phineas Finn or Madame Max Ghostler for a while during the frantic efforts that were made an occasional tardy horsemen was viewed galloping along outside the covert following the tracks of those who had gone before but before the frantic efforts had been abandoned as utterly useless every vestige of the morning's work left the neighborhood of Broughton Spinnies except these two unfortunate ones at last it was necessary that the defeat should be acknowledged were beaten Madame Ghostler said Phineas almost in tears all together beaten Mr Finn I've a good mind to swear that I'll never come out hunting again swear what you like if it will relieve you only don't think of keeping such an oath I've known you before this to be in circumstances quite as distressing as these and to be certain that all hope was over but yet you have recovered this was the only illusion she had made to their former acquaintance and now we must think of getting out of the wood I haven't the slightest idea of the direction of anything nor have I but as we clearly can't get out this way we might as well try the other come along we shall find somebody to put us in the right road I'm glad it is no worse I thought at one time that you were going to break your neck they rode on for a few minutes in silence and then she spoke again is it not odd Mr Finn that after all that has come and gone you and I should find ourselves writing about Broughton Spinnies together End of Chapter 16 Chapter 17 of Phineas Redux This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org Recording by Philippa Phineas Redux by Anthony Trollop Chapter 17 Madame Gersler's Story After all that has come and gone is it not odd that you and I should find ourselves writing about Broughton Spinnies together That was the question which Madame Gersler asked Phineas Finn when they had both agreed that it was all the jump over the bank out of the wood and it was of course necessary that some answer should be given to it When I last saw you in London said Phineas with a voice that was gruff and a manner that was abrupt I certainly did not think that we should meet again so soon No I left you as though I had grounds for quarrelling but there was no quarrel I wrote to you and tried to explain that You did The answer was necessarily short I was very grateful and here you are back among us and it does seem so odd Lady Chiltern never told me that I was to meet you Nor did she tell me It is better so for otherwise I should not have come and then perhaps you would have been all alone in your discomfort here at the bank That would have been very bad You see I can be quite frank with you Mr. Finn I am heartily glad to see you but I should not have come had I been told and when I did see you it was quite improbable that we should be thrown together as we are now was it not? Here is a man and he can tell us the way back to Copperhouse Cross but I suppose we'd better ask for Harrington Hall at once The man knew nothing at all about Harrington Hall and very little about Copperhouse but he did direct them onto the road and they found they were about sixteen miles from Lord Chiltern's house The hounds had gone away in the direction of Trumpton Wood and it was agreed that it would be useless to follow them The wagonnet had been left at an inn about two miles from Copperhouse Cross but they resolved to abandon that and to ride direct to Harrington Hall It was now nearly three o'clock and they would not be subjected to the shame which falls upon sportsmen who were seen riding home very early in the day to get oneself lost before twelve and then to come home is a very degrading thing but at any time after two you may be supposed to have ridden the run of the season and to be returning after an excellent day's work Then Madam Gersler began to talk about herself and to give a short history of her life during the last two and a half years She did this in a frank, natural manner continuing her tale in a low voice as though it were almost a matter of course that she should make the recital to so old a friend and Phineas soon began to feel that it was natural that she should do so It was just before you left us she said that the Duke took to coming to my house The Duke spoken of was the Duke of Omnium and Phineas well remembered to have heard some rumours about the Duke and Madam Max It had been hinted to him that the Duke wanted to marry the lady but that rumour he had never believed The reader, if he has duly studied the history of the age, will know that the Duke did make an offer to Madam Gersler pressing it with all his eloquence but that Madam Gersler on mature consideration thought it best to decline to become a Duchess Of all this however the reader who understands Madam Gersler's character will be quite sure that she did not say a word to Phineas Phine Since the business had been completed she had spoken of it to no one but to Lady Glencora Palliser who had forced herself into a knowledge of all the circumstances while they were being acted I met the Duke once at matching said Phineas I remember it well I was there and first made the Duke's acquaintance on that occasion I don't know how it was that we became intimate but we did and then I formed a sort of friendship with Lady Glencora and somehow it has come about that we have been a great deal together since I suppose you like Lady Glencora Very much indeed and the Duke too The truth is Mr. Phine that let one boast as one may of one's independence and I very often do boast of mine to myself one is inclined to do more for a Duke of Omnium than for a Mr. Jones The Duke's have more to offer than the Jones's I don't mean in the way of wealth only but of what one enjoys most in society generally I suppose they have At any rate I am glad that you should make some excuse for me but I do like the man he is gracious and noble in his bearing he is now very old and sinking fast into the grave but even the wreck is noble I don't know that he ever did much said Phineas I don't know that he ever did anything according to your idea of doing there must be some men who do nothing but a man with his wealth and rank has opportunities so great is his nephew no doubt Mr. Palliser is a great man he never has a moment to speak to his wife or to anybody else and is always thinking so much about the country that I doubt if he knows anything about his own affairs of course he is a man of a different stamp and of a higher stamp if you will but I have an idea that such characters as those of the present Duke are necessary to the maintenance of the great aristocracy he has had the power of making the world believe in him simply because he has been rich and a Duke his nephew when he comes to the title will never receive a ties of the respect that has been paid to this old Phineant but he will achieve much more than ten times the reputation said Phineas I won't compare them nor will I argue but I like the Duke nay I love him during the last two years I have allowed the whole fashion of my life to be remodeled by this intimacy you knew what were my habits I have only been in Vienna for one week since I last saw you and I have spent months and months at matching what do you do there read to him talk to him give him his food and do all that in me lies to make his life bearable last year when it was thought necessary that very distinguished people should be entertained at the great family castle in Basica you know I have heard of the place a regular treaty or agreement was drawn up conditions were sealed and signed one condition was that both Lady Glencora and I should be there we put our heads together to try to avoid this as of course the prince would not want to see me particularly and it was altogether so grand an affair that things had to be weighed but the Duke was inexorable Lady Glencora at such a time would have other things to do and I must be there or gather and castle should not be opened I suggested whether I could not remain in the background and look after the Duke as a kind of upper nurse but Lady Glencora said it would not do why should you subject yourself to such indignity simply from love of the man but you see I was not subjected for two days I wore my jewels beneath royal eyes eyes that will sooner or later belong to absolute majesty it was an awful bore and I ought to have been at Vienna you ask me why I did it the fact is that things sometimes become too strong for one even when there is no real power of constraint for years past I have been used to have my own way but when there came a question of the entertainment of royalty I found myself reduced to blind obedience I had to go to Gatherham castle to the absolute neglect of my business and I went still keep it up oh dear yes he isn't matching now and I doubt whether he will ever leave it again I shall go there from here as a matter of course and relieve guard with Lady Glencora I don't see what you get for it all get what should I get you don't believe in friendship then certainly I do but this friendship is so unequal I can hardly understand that it should have grown personal liking on your side I think it has said Madame Gersler slowly you see Mr Finn that you as a young man can hardly understand how natural it is that a young woman if I may call myself young should minister to an old man but there should be some bond to the old man there is a bond you must not be angry with me said Phineas at least angry I should not venture to express any opinion of course only that you ask me I do ask you and you are quite welcome to express your opinion and were it not expressed I should know what you thought just the same I've wondered at it myself sometimes that I should have become as it were engulfed in this new life almost without will of my own and when he dies how shall I return to the other life of course I have the house in Park Lane still but my very maid stalk of matching as my home how will it be when he is gone ah how indeed Lady Glencora and I will have to curtsy to each other and there will be an end of it she will be a duchess then and I shall no longer be wanted but even if you were wanted oh of course it must last the dukes time and last no longer it would not be a healthy kind of life were it not that I do my very best to make the evening of his day pleasant for him and in that way to be of some service in the world it has done me good to think that I have in some small degree sacrificed myself let me see we are to turn here to the left that goes to Copperhouse Cross no doubt is it not odd that I should have told you all this history just because this brute would not jump over the fence I daresay I should have told you even if he had jumped over but certainly this has been a great opportunity do you tell your friend Lord Chilton not to abuse the poor duke any more before me I daresay our host is all right in what he says but I don't like it you'll come and see me in London Mr Finn but you'll be at matching I do get a few days at home sometimes you see I have escaped for the present or otherwise you and I would not grieve together in broadened spinnies soon after this they were overtaken by others who were returning home and who had been more fortunate than they in getting away with the hounds the fox had gone straight for trumpetan wood not daring to try the gorse on the way and then had been run to ground Chilton was again in a towering passion as the earths he said had been purposely left open but on this matter the men who had overtaken our friends were both of opinion that Chilton was wrong he had allowed it to be understood that he would not draw trumpetan wood and he had therefore no right to expect that the earths should be stopped but there were and had been various opinions on this difficult point as the laws of hunting are complex recondite numerous traditional and not always perfectly understood perhaps the day may arrive in which they shall be codified under the care of some great and laborious master of hounds they did nothing more asked Phineas yes they chopped another fox before they left the place so that in point of fact they have drawn trumpetan but they didn't mean it when Madame Max Gursler and Phineas had reached Harrington Hall they were able to give their own story of the day's sport to Lady Chilton as the remainder of the party had not as yet returned End of Chapter 17