 CHAPTER 31 by three o'clock in the day after the little accident which was told in the last chapter, all the world knew that Mr. Kennedy, the new cabinet minister, had been garotted, or half-garotted, and that that child of fortune, Phineas Finn, had dropped upon the scene, out of heaven, at the exact moment of time, had taken the two garotters' prisoners and saved the cabinet minister's neck and valuables, if not his life. Be dad, said Lawrence Fitzgibbon, when he came to hear this, that fellow, a Marian Eris, and be secretary of Ireland yet. A good deal was said about it to Phineas at the clubs, but a word or two that was said to him by Violet Effingham was worth all the rest. Why, what a paladin you are! But you sucker men in distress instead of maidens! That's my bad luck, said Phineas. The other will come no doubt in time, Violet replied, and then you'll get your reward. He knew that such words from a girl mean nothing, especially from such a girl as Violet Effingham, but nevertheless they were pleasant to him. Of course you will come to us at Laughmenter when Parliament is up, Lady Laura said the same day. I don't know, really. You see, I must go over to Ireland about my re-election. What has that to do with it? You are only making out excuses. We go down the first of July, and the English elections won't begin till the middle of the month. It will be August before the men of Laughshin are ready for you. To tell you the truth, Lady Laura, said Phineas, I doubt whether the men of Laughshin or rather the man of Laughshin will have anything more to say to me. What man do you mean? Lord Tula, he was in a passion with his brother before, and I got the advantage of it. Since that he has paid his brother's debts for the fiftieth time, and of course is ready to fight any battle for the forgiven prodigal. Things are not as they were, and my father tells me that he thinks I shall be beaten. That is bad news. It is what I have a right to expect. Every word of information that had come to Phineas about Laughshin, since Mr. Mildmay had decided upon a dissolution, had gone towards making him feel at first that there was a great doubt as to his re-election, and at last that there was almost a certainty against him. And as these tidings reached him, they made him very unhappy. Since he had been in Parliament, he had very frequently regretted that he had left the shades of the ends of court for the glare of Westminster, and he had, more than once, made up his mind that he would desert the glare and return to the shade. But now, when the moment came in which such desertion seemed to be compulsory on him, when there would be no longer a choice, the seat in Parliament was dearer to him than ever. If he had gone of his own free will, so he told himself, there would have been something of nobility in such going. Mr. Laugh would have respected him, and even Mrs. Laugh might have taken him back to the friendship of her severe bosom. But he would go back now as a cur, with his tail between his legs, kicked out as it were from Parliament. Returning to Lincoln's Inn, soiled with failure, having accomplished nothing, having broken down on the only occasion on which he had dared to show himself on his legs, not having opened a single useful book during the two years in which he had sat in Parliament, burdened with Lauren Fitzgibbon's debt, and not quite free from debt of his own, how could he start himself in any way by which he might even hope to win success? He must, he told himself, give up all thought of practicing in London, and be take himself to Dublin. He could not dare to face his friends in London as a young, briefless barrister. On this evening, the evening subsequent to that on which Mr. Kennedy had been attacked, the house was sitting in committee of ways and means, and there came on a discussion as to a certain vote for the army. It had been known that there would be such discussion, and Mr. Monk, having heard from Phineas a word or two now and again about the potted peas, had recommended him to be ready with a few remarks if he wished to support the government in the matter of that vote. Phineas did so wish, having learned quite enough in the committee room upstairs to make him believe that a large importation of the potted peas from Holstein would not be for the advantage of the army or navy, or for that of the country at large. Mr. Monk had made his suggestion without the slightest allusion to the former failure, just as though Phineas were a practice speaker accustomed to be on his legs three or four times a week. If I find a chance, I will, said Phineas, taking the advice just as it was given. Soon after prayers a word was said in the house as to the ill fortune which had befallen the new cabinet minister. Mr. Dobony had asked Mr. Mildmay whether violent hands had not been laid in the dead of the night on the sacred throat, the throat that should have been sacred, of the new chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and expressed regret that the ministry, which was, he feared, in other respects somewhat infirm, should now have been further weakened by this injury to that new bulwark with which it had endeavored to support itself. The prime minister, answering his old rival in the same strain, said that the calamity might have been very severe both to the country and to the cabinet. But that fortunately for the community at large, a gallant young member of that house, and he was proud to say a supporter of the government, had appeared upon the spot at the nick of time as a god out of a machine, said Mr. Dobony interrupting him, by no means as a god out of a machine, continued Mr. Mildmay, but as a real help in a very real trouble, and succeeded not only in saving my right honorable friend, the chancellor of the Duchy, but in arresting the two malifactors who attempted to rob him in the street. Then there was a cry of name, and Mr. Mildmay, of course, named the member for Lough Shane. It so happened that Phineas was not in the house, but he heard it all when he came down to attend the committee of the ways and means. Then came on the discussion about the provisions in the army, the subject being mooted by one of Mr. Turnbull's close allies. The gentleman on the other side of the house, who had moved for the Potted Peas Committee, was silent on the occasion, having felt that the result of that committee had not been exactly what he had expected. The evidence respecting such of the Holstein Potted Peas as had been used in this country was not very favourable to them. But nevertheless the rebound from that committee, the very fact that such a committee had been made to sit, gave ground for a hostile attack. To attack is so easy when a complete refutation barely suffices to save the minister attacked, does not suffice to save him from future dim memories of something having been wrong, and brings down no disgrace whatsoever upon the promoter of the false charge. The promoter of the false charge simply expresses his gratification at finding that he had been misled by erroneous information. It is not customary for him to express gratification at the fact that out of all the mud which he has thrown, some will probably stick. Phineas, when the time came, did get on his legs and spoke perhaps two or three dozen words. The doing so seemed to come to him quite naturally. He had thought very little about it beforehand, having resolved not to think of it, and indeed the occasion was one of no great importance. The speaker was not in the chair and the house was thin, and he intended to make no speech, merely to say something which he had to say. Till he had finished, he hardly remembered that he was doing that in attempting to do which he had before failed so egregiously. It was not till he sat down and he began to ask himself whether the scene was swimming before his eyes as it had done on former occasions, as it had done even when he had so much as thought of making a speech. Now he was astonished at the easiness of the thing. And as he left the house, told himself that he had overcome the difficulty just when the victory could be of no avail to him. Had he been more eager, more constant in his purpose, he might at any rate have shown the world that he was fit for the place which he had presumed to take before he was cast out of it. On the next morning he received a letter from his father. Dr. Phine had seen Lord Tula, having been sent for to relieve his lordship in a fit of the gout, and had been informed by the earl that he meant to fight the borough to the last man. And he said to the last shilling he would have spoken with perhaps more accuracy. You see, doctor, your son has had it for two years. As you may say for nothing, and I think he ought to give way, he can't expect that he's to go on there as though it were his own. And then his lordship, upon whom this touch of the gout had come somewhat sharply, expressed himself with considerable animation. The old doctor behaved with much spirit. I told the earl, he said, that I could not undertake to say what you might do, but that as you had come forward at first with my sanction, I could not withdraw it now. He asked me if I should support you with money. I said that I should, to a moderate extent, by God said the earl, a moderate extent will go a very little way, I can tell you. Since that he has had dug in with him so, I suppose I shall not see him any more. You can do as you please now. But from what I hear, I fear you will have no chance. Then with much bitterness and spirit, Phineas resolved that he would not interfere with Lord Tula at Lauschen. He would go at once to the reform club and explain his reasons to Barrington earl and others there who would be interested. But he first went to Grossvenor place. Here he was shown up into Mr. Kennedy's room. Mr. Kennedy was up and seated in an armchair by an open window looking over into the Queen's garden. But he was in his dressing gown and was to be regarded as an invalid and indeed, as he could not turn his neck or thought that he could not do so, he was not very fit to go about his work. Let us hope that the affairs of the Duchy of Lancaster did not suffer materially by his absence. We may take it for granted that with a man so sedulous as to all his duties, there was no arrear of work when the accident took place. He put out his hand to Phineas and said some words in a whisper, some word or two, among which Phineas caught the sound of potted peas and then continued to look out of the window. There are men who are utterly prostrated by any bodily ailment. And it seemed that Mr. Kennedy was one of them. Phineas, who was full of his own bad news, had intended to tell his sad story at once, but he perceived that the neck of the Chancellor of the Duchy was too stiff to allow if he's taking any interest in external matters. And so he refrained. What does the doctor say about it, said Phineas, perceiving that just for the present there could be only one possible subject for remark? Mr. Kennedy was beginning to describe, in a long whisper, what the doctor did think about it when Lady Laura came into the room. Of course, they began at first to talk about Mr. Kennedy. It would not have been kind to him not to have done so. And Lady Laura made much of the injury. As it behoves a wife to do, in such circumstances, for the sake both of the sufferer and of the hero, she declared her conviction that had Phineas been a moment later, her husband's neck would have been irredeemably broken. I don't think they ever do kill the people, said Phineas. At any rate, they don't mean to do so. I thought they did, said Lady Laura. I fancy not, said Phineas, eager in the cause of the truth. I think this man was very clumsy, whispered Mr. Kennedy. Perhaps he was a beginner, said Phineas, and that may make a difference. If so, I'm afraid we have interfered with his education. Then, by degrees, the conversation got away to other things, and Lady Laura asked him about loftian. I've made up my mind to give it up, said he, smiling as he spoke. I was afraid there was but a bad chance, said Lady Laura, smiling also. My father has behaved so well, said Phineas. He has written to say he'll find the money if I determine to contest the burrow. I mean to write to him by tonight's post to decline the offer. I have no right to spend the money, and I shouldn't succeed if I did spend it. Of course, it makes me a little down in the mouth. And then he smiled again. I've got a plan of my own, said Lady Laura. What plan? Or rather, it isn't mine, but Papa's. Old Mr. Standish is going to give up Lofton, and Papa wants you to come and try your luck there. Lady Laura, it isn't quite a certainty, you know, but I suppose it's as near a certainty as anything left. And this came from a strong, radical reformer. Lady Laura, I couldn't accept such a favour from your father. Then Mr. Kennedy nodded his head very slightly and whispered, Yes, yes, I couldn't think of it, said Phineas Finn. I have no right to such a favour. That is a matter entirely for Papa's consideration, said Lady Laura, with an affectation of solemnity in her voice. I think it has always been felt that any politician may accept such an offer as that when it is made to him, but that no politician should ask for it. My father feels that he has to do the best he can with his influence in the borough, and therefore he comes to you. It isn't that, said Phineas somewhat rudely. Of course, private feelings have their weight, said Lady Laura. It is not probable that Papa would have gone to a perfect stranger. And perhaps, Mr. Finn, I may own that Mr. Kennedy and I would both be very sorry that you should not be in the house, and that that feeling on our part has had some weight with my father. Of course, you'll stand, whispered Mr. Kennedy, still looking straight out of the window, as though the slightest attempt to turn his neck would be fraught with danger to himself and the duchy. Papa has desired me to ask you to call upon him, said Lady Laura. I don't suppose there is very much to be said, as each of you know so well the other's way of thinking, but you had better see him today or tomorrow. Of course, Phineas was persuaded before he left Mr. Kennedy's room. Indeed, when he came to think of it, there appeared to him to be no valid reason why he should not sit for Lofton. The favour was of a kind that had prevailed from time out of mind in England, between the most respectable of the great land magnets and young rising liberal politicians. Burke, Fox, and Canning had all been placed in Parliament by similar influence. Of course, he, Phineas Finn, desired earnestly, longed in his very heart of hearts to extinguish all such parliamentary influence, to root out, for ever, the last vestige of close borough nominations. But while the thing remained, it was better that the thing should contribute to the liberal than to the conservative strength of the House. And if to the liberal, how was this to be achieved, but by the acceptance of such influence by some liberal candidate? And if it were right that it should be accepted by any liberal candidate, then why not him? The logic of this approach seemed to him to be perfect. He felt something like a sting of reproach as he told himself that in truth this great offer was made to him not on account of the excellence of his politics, but because he had been instrumental in saving Lord Brentford's son-in-law from the violence of garotters. But he crushed these qualms of consciences being overscrupulous. And as he told himself, not practical, you must take the world as you find it with a struggle to be something more honest than those around you. Phineas, as he preached to himself this sermon, declared to himself that they who attempted more than this flew too high in the clouds to be of service to men and women upon earth. As he did not see Lord Brentford that day, he postponed writing to his father for 24 hours. On the following morning he found the Earl at home in Portman Square, having first discussed the matter fully with the Lord Children. Do not scruple about me, said Lord Children, you are quite welcome to the borough for me. But if I did not stand, would you do so? There are so many reasons which ought to induce you to accept a seat in Parliament. Whether they be true or not, Phineas, I shall not accept my father's interest at Lofton unless it be offered to me in a way in which it never will be offered. You know me well enough to be sure that I shall not change my mind, nor will he. And therefore you may go down to Lofton with a pure conscience as far as I am concerned. Phineas had his interview with the Earl, and in ten minutes everything was settled. On his way to Portman Square there had come across his mind the idea of a grand effort of friendship. What if he could persuade the father so to conduct himself towards his son that the son should consent to be a member of the borough? And he did say a word or two to this effect, setting forth that Lord Children would condescend to become a legislator, if only his father would condescend to acknowledge his son's fitness for such work without any comments on the son's past life. But the Earl simply waved the subject away with his hand. He could be as obstinate as his son. Lady Laura had been the mercury between them on this subject, and Lady Laura had failed. He would not now consent to employ another mercury. Very little, hardly a word indeed, was said between the Earl and Phineas about politics. Phineas was to be the Salisbury candidate at Lofton for the next election, and was to come to Salisbury with the Kennedys from Laughlinter, either with the Kennedys or somewhat in advance of them. I do not say that there will be no opposition, said the Earl, but I expect none. He was very courteous, nay. He was kind, feeling doubtless that his family owed a very great debt of gratitude to the young man with whom he was conversing. But nevertheless there was not absent on his part a touch of that high condescension, which perhaps might be thought to become the Earl, the Cabinet Minister, and the great borough patron. Phineas was very sensitive, felt this, and winced. He had never quite liked Lord Brentford, and could not bring himself to do so now in spite of the kindness which the Earl was showing him. But he was very happy when he sat down to write to his father from the club. His father had told him that the money should be forthcoming for the election at Lofton. If he resolved to stand, but that the chance of success would be very slight. Indeed, that in his opinion there would be no chance of success. Nevertheless, his father had evidently believed when writing that Phineas would not abandon his seat without a useless and expensive contest. He now thanked his father with many expressions of gratitude, declared his conviction that his father was right about Lord Tula, and then in the most modest language that he could use went on to say that he had found another borough open to him in England. He was going to stand for Lofton with the assistance of Lord Brentford and thought that the election would probably not cost him above a couple of hundred pounds at the outside. Then he wrote a very pretty note to Lord Tula thanking him for his former kindness and telling the Irish Earl that it was not his intention to interfere with the borough of Lofton at the next election. A few days after this Phineas was very much surprised at a visit that was made to him at his lodgings. Mr. Clarkson, after the scene in the lobby of the house, called again in the great Marlborough Street and was admitted. You had better let him sit in your armchair for a half an hour or so, Fitzgibbon had said, and Phineas almost believed that it would be better. The man was a terrible nuisance to him, and he was beginning to think that he had better undertake to pay the debt by degrees. It was, he knew, quite on the cards that Mr. Clarkson should have him arrested while at Salisbury. Since that scene in the lobby, Mr. Clarkson had been with him twice, and there had been a preliminary conversation as to real payment. Mr. Clarkson wanted a hundred pounds down and another bill for two hundred and twenty at three months' date. Think of my time and trouble in coming here, Mr. Clarkson had urged when Phineas had objected to these terms, think of my time and trouble and do be punctual, Mr. Finn. Phineas had offered him ten pounds a quarter, and the payments to be marked on the back of the bill, a tender which Mr. Clarkson had not seemed to regard as strong evidence of punctuality. He had not been angry, but had simply expressed his intention of calling again, giving Phineas to understand that business would probably take him to the west of Ireland in the autumn, if only business might not take him down either to Laughlinter or to Salisbury. But the strange visitor who came to Phineas in the midst of these troubles put an end to them all. The strange visitor was Miss Aspasia Vitskibin. You'll be very much surprised at my coming to your chambers, no doubt, she said, as she sat down in the chair which Phineas placed for her. Phineas could only say that he was very proud to be so highly honoured, and that he hoped she was well. Pretty well, thank you. I have just come about a little business, Mr. Finn, and I hope you'll excuse me. I'm quite sure there is no need for excuses, said Phineas. Lawrence, when he hears about it, will say that I've been an impertinent old fool. But I never care what Lawrence says, either this way or that. I've been to that Mr. Clarkson, Mr. Finn, and I've paid him the money. No, said Phineas, but I have, Mr. Finn. I happen to hear what occurred that night at the door of the House of Commons. Who told you Miss Vitskibin? Never mind, who told me. I heard it. I knew before that you had been foolish enough to help Lawrence about money. And so I put two and two together. It isn't the first time I've had to do with Mr. Clarkson. So I sent to him and I've bought the bill. There it is. And Miss Vitskibin produced the document which bore the name of Phineas Finn across the front of it. And did you pay him two hundred and fifty pounds for it? Not quite. I had a very hard tussle and I got it at last for two hundred and twenty pounds. And did you do it yourself? All myself. If I had employed a lawyer, I should have had to pay two hundred and forty and five pounds for costs. And now, Mr. Finn, I hope you won't have any more money engagements with my brother Lawrence. Phineas said that he thought he might promise that he would have no more. Because if you do, I shan't interfere. If Lawrence began to find that he could get money out of me in that way, there would be no end of it. Mr. Clarkson would very soon be spending his spare time in my drawing room. Goodbye, Mr. Finn. If Lawrence says anything, just tell him that he'd better come to me. Then Phineas was looking at the bill. It was certainly a great relief to him that he should be thus secured from the domiciliary visits of Mr. Clarkson, a great relief to him to be assured that Mr. Clarkson would not find him out at Lofton, but nevertheless, he had to suffer a pang of shame as he felt that misfits given had become acquainted with his poverty and had found herself obliged to satisfy his pecuniary liabilities. End of CHAPTER XXXI. Recording by Bob Sage. CHAPTER XXXII. 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 Mary Rody. Phineas Finn by Anthony Trellop. CHAPTER XXXII. Lady Laura Kennedy's Headache. Phineas went down to Laughlinter early in July, taking Lawton in his way. He stayed there one night at the inn, and was introduced to sundry influential inhabitants of the borough by Mr. Grading, the ironmonger, who was known by those who knew Lawton to be a very strong supporter of the Earl's interest. Mr. Grading, and about half a dozen others of the tradesmen of the town, came to the inn and met Phineas in the parlor. He told them he was a good sound liberal, and a supporter of Mr. Mildmay's government, of which their neighbor the Earl was so conspicuous and ornament. This was almost all that was said about the Earl out loud, but each individual man of Lawton then present took an opportunity during the meeting of whispering into Mr. Finn's ear a word or two to show that he also was admitted to the secret councils of the borough, that he too could see the inside of the arrangement. Of course we must support the Earl, one said. Never mind what you hear about a Tory candidate, Mr. Finn, whispered a second. The Earl can do what he pleases here. And it seemed to Phineas that it was thought by them all to be rather a fine thing to be thus held in the hand by an English nobleman. Phineas could not but reflect much upon this as he lay in his bed at the Lawton Inn. The great political question on which the political world was engrossed up in London was the enfranchisement of Englishmen, of Englishmen down to the rank of artisans and laborers, and yet when he found himself in contact with individual Englishmen, with men even very much above the artisan and the laborer, he found that they rather liked being bound hand and foot and being kept as tools in the political pocket of a rich man. Every one of those Lawton tradesmen was proud of his own personal subjection to the Earl. From Lawton he went to Laughlinter, having promised to be back in the borough for the election. Mr. Grading would propose him, and he was to be seconded by Mr. Short Ribs, the Butcher and Grazier. Mention had been made of a conservative candidate, as Mr. Short Ribs had seemed to think that a good stand-up fight upon English principles, with a clear understanding, of course, that victory should prevail on the liberal side, would be a good thing for the borough. But the Earl's man of business saw Phineas on the morning of his departure and told him not to regard Mr. Short Ribs. They'd all like it, said the man of business, and I daresay they'll have enough of it when this reform-bill is passed. But at present no one will be fool enough to come and spend his money here. We have them all in hand too well for that, Mr. Phine. He found the great house at Laughlinter nearly empty. Mr. Kennedy's mother was there, and Lord Brentford was there, and Lord Brentford's private secretary, and Mr. Kennedy's private secretary. At present that was the entire party. Lady Baldock was expected there, with her daughter and Violet Effingham, but as well as Phineas could learn, they would not be at Laughlinter until after he had left. There had come up lately a rumour that there would be an autumn session, that the houses would sit through October and a part of November in order that Mr. Mildmay might try the feeling of the new Parliament. If this were to be so, Phineas had resolved that in the event of his election at Lawton he would not return to Ireland till after this autumn session should be over. He gave an account to the Earl in the presence of the Earl's son-in-law of what had taken place at Lawton, and the Earl expressed himself satisfied. It was manifestly a great satisfaction to Lord Brentford that he should still have a borough in his pocket, and the more so because there were so very few noblemen left who had such property belonging to them. He was very careful in his speech, never saying in so many words that the privilege of returning a member was his own, but his meaning was not the less clear. Those were dreary days at Laughlinter that was fishing if Phineas chose to fish, and he was told that he could shoot a deer if he was minded to go out alone. But it seemed as though it were the intention of the host that his guests should spend their time profitably. Mr. Kennedy himself was shut up with books and papers all morning, and always took up a book after dinner. The Earl also would read a little, and then would sleep a good deal. Old Mrs. Kennedy slept also, and Lady Laura looked as though she would like to sleep if it were not that her husband's eye was upon her. As it was, she administered tea. Mr. Kennedy not liking the practice of having it handed round by a servant when none were there but the members of the family circle. And she read novels. Phineas got hold of a stiff bit of reading for himself and tried to utilize his time. He took Allison in hand and worked his way gallantly through a couple of volumes. But even he, more than once or twice, found himself on the very verge of slumber. Then he would wake up and try to think about things. Was he Phineas Finn, an Irishman from Kililoy, living in that great house of Laughlinter as though he were one of the family, striving to kill the hours, and feeling that he was in some way subject to the dominion of his host? Would it not be better for him to get up and go away? In his heart of hearts he did not like Mr. Kennedy, though he believed him to be a good man. His service to him was it to like Lady Laura, now that Lady Laura was a possession in the hands of Mr. Kennedy. Then he would tell himself that he owed his position in the world entirely to Lady Laura and that he was ungrateful to feel himself ever dull in her society. And, moreover, there was something to be done in the world beyond making love and being merry. Mr. Kennedy could occupy himself with a blue book for hours together without wincing. So Phineas went to work again with his Allison and read away till he nodded. In those days he often wandered up and down the Linter and across the moor to the Lynn and so down to the Lake. He would take a book with him and would seat himself down on spots which he loved and would pretend to read, but I do not think that he got much advantage from his book. He was thinking of his life, trying to calculate whether the wonderful success which he had achieved would ever be of permanent value to him. Would he be nearer to earning his bread when he should be member for Lawton than he had been when he was member for Loftshain? Or was there before him any slightest probability that he would ever earn his bread? And then he thought of Violet Effingham and was angry with himself for remembering at that moment that Violet Effingham was the mistress of a large fortune. Once before when he was sitting beside the Linter he had made up his mind to declare his passion to Lady Laura and he had done so on the very spot. Now, within a twelve-month of that time he made up his mind on the same spot to declare his passion for Miss Effingham and he thought his best motive carrying his suit would be to secure the assistance of Lady Laura. Lady Laura, no doubt, had been very anxious that her brother should marry Violet. But Lord Chiltern, as Phineas knew, had asked for Violet's hand twice in vain. And, moreover, Chiltern himself had declared to Phineas that he would never ask for it again. Lady Laura, who was always reasonable would surely perceive that there was no hope of success for her brother. That Chiltern would quarrel with him would quarrel with him to the knife. He did not doubt. But he felt that no fear of such a quarrel as that should deter him. He loved Violet Effingham and he must indeed be pusillanimous if, loving her as he did, he was deterred from expressing his love from any fear of a suitor whom she did not favour. He would not willingly be untrue to his friendship for Lady Laura's brother. Had there been a chance for Lord Chiltern he would have abstained from putting himself forward. But what was the use of his abstaining when by doing so he could in no wise benefit his friend when the result of his doing so would be that some interloper would come in and carry off the prize. He would explain all this to Lady Laura and if the prize would be kind to him he would disregard the anger of Lord Chiltern even though it might be anger to the knife. As he was thinking of all this Lady Laura stood before him where he was sitting at the top of the falls. At this moment he remembered well all the circumstances of the scene when he had been there with her at his last visit to Laugh-Lynter how things had changed since then. Then he had loved Lady Laura with all his heart and he had now already brought himself to regard her as a discreet matron whom to love would be almost as unreasonable as though he were to entertain a passion for the Lord Chancellor. The reader will understand how thorough had been the cure affected by Lady Laura's marriage in a role of a few months when the swain was already prepared to make this lady the depository of his confidence in another matter of love. You are often here I suppose said Lady Laura looking down upon him as he sat upon the rock. Well yes not very often I come here sometimes because the view down upon the lake is so fine. It is the prettiest spot about the place I hardly ever get here now indeed this is only the second time that I have been up since we have been at home and then I came to bring papa here. There was a little wooden seat near to the rock upon which Phineas had been lying and upon this Lady Laura sat down. Phineas with his eyes turned upon the lake was considering how he might introduce the subject of love for Violet Effingham but he did not find the matter very easy. He had just resolved to begin by saying that Violet would certainly never accept Lord Chiltern when Lady Laura spoke a word or two which stopped him altogether. How well I remember she said the day when you and I were here last autumn. So do I you told me then that you were going to be married after Kennedy? How much has happened since then? Much indeed enough for a whole lifetime and yet how slow the time has gone. I do not think it has been slow with me said Phineas. No, you have been active. You have had your hands full of work. I am beginning to think and yet I have heard you say that a woman may do as much as a man. That was before I had learned my lesson properly. I know better than that now. Oh dear, I have no doubt it is all for the best as it is, but I have a kind of wish that I might be allowed to go out and milk the cows. And may you not milk the cows if you wish it Lady Laura? By no means. Not only not milk them but hardly look at them. At any rate I must not talk about them. Phineas of course understood that she was complaining of her husband and hardly knew how to reply to her. He had been sharp enough to perceive already that Mr. Kennedy was an autocrat in his own house and he knew Lady Laura well enough to be sure that such masterdom would be very irksome to her. But he had not imagined that she would complain to him. It was so different at Salspy, Lady Laura continued, everything there seemed to be my own. And everything here is your own. Yes, according to the prayer-book and everything in truth is my own, as all the dainties at the banquet belong to Sancho the Governor. You mean," said he, and then hesitated, you mean that Mr. Kennedy stands over you guarding you for your own welfare as the doctor stood over Sancho and guarded him? There was a pause before she answered. A long pause, during which he was looking away over the lake and thinking how he might introduce the subject of his love. But long as was the pause he had not begun that Lady Laura was again speaking. The truth is, my friend, she said, that I have made a mistake. A mistake? Yes, Phineas, a mistake. I have blundered as fools blunder, thinking that I was clever enough to pick up my footsteps a right without asking counsel from anyone. I have blundered and stumbled and fallen, so bruised that I am not able to stand upon my feet. The word that struck him most in all this was his own Christian name. She had never called him Phineas before. He was aware that the circle of his acquaintance had fallen into a way of miscalling him by his Christian name, as one observes to be done now and again in reference to some special young man, whom his friends called him Phineas. Even the Earl had done so more than once, on occasions in which the greatness of his position had dropped for a moment out of his mind. Mrs. Low had called him Phineas when she regarded him as her husband's most cherished pupil and Mrs. Bunce had called him Mr. Phineas. He had always been Phineas to everybody at Killiloy, but still he was quite sure that Lady Laura had never also called him before, nor would she have done so now in her husband's presence. He was sure of that also. You mean that you are unhappy, he said, still looking away from her towards the lake. Yes, I do mean that, though I do not know why I should come and tell you so, except that I am still blundering and stumbling and have fallen into a way of step. You can tell no one who is more anxious for your happiness, said Phineas. That is a very pretty speech, but what would you do for my happiness? Indeed, what is it possible that you should do? I mean it as no rebuke when I say that my happiness or unhappiness is a matter as to which you will soon become perfectly indifferent. Why should you say so, Lady Laura? Because it is natural that it should be so. You and Mr. Kennedy might have been friends, not that you will be, because you are unlike each other in all your ways, but it might have been so. And are not you and I to be friends? He asked. No, in a very few months you will not think of telling me what are your desires and as for me it will be out of the question that I should tell mine to you. How can you be my friend? If you were not quite sure of my friendship, Lady Laura, you would not speak to me as you are speaking now. Still he did not look at her, but lay with his face supported on his hands and his eyes turned away upon the lake. But she, where she was sitting was only him and was aided by her sight in making comparisons in her mind between the two men who had been her lovers, between him whom she had taken and him whom she had left. There was something in the hard, dry, unsympathizing, unchanging virtues of her husband which almost revolted her. He had not a fault, but she had tried him and had been able to strike no spark of fire from him. Even by disobeying she could produce no heat only an axis of firmness. How would it have been with her had she thrown all ideas of fortune to the winds and linked her lot to that of the young Phoebus who was lying at her feet? If she had ever loved anyone she had loved him and she had not thrown away money. So she swore to herself over and over again trying to console herself in her cold unhappiness. She had married a rich man in order that she might be able to do something in the world and now that she was this rich man's wife she found that she could do nothing. The rich man thought it to be quite enough for her to sit at home and look after his welfare. In the meantime young Phoebus her Phoebus as he had been once was thinking altogether of someone else. Phineas she said slowly I have in you such perfect confidence that I will tell you the truth as one man may tell it to another. I wish you would go from here. What at once? Not today or tomorrow stay here now till the election but do not return he will ask you to come and press you hard and will be hurt for strange to say with all his coldness he really likes you he has a pleasure in seeing you here but he must not have that pleasure at the expense of trouble to me. And why is it a trouble to you? he asked. I have such fools so awkward so unready with their wits ever behind the occasion by a dozen seconds or so as soon as the words were uttered he knew that they should not have been spoken because I am a fool she said why else is not that enough for you? Laura he said no no I will have none of that I am a fool not such a fool as to suppose that any cure is to be found there only say what I can do for you though it be with my entire life and I will do it you can do nothing except to keep away from me are you earnest in telling me that? now at last he had turned himself round and was looking at her and as he looked he saw the hat of a man appearing up the path and immediately afterwards the face it was the hat and face of the Laird of Laughlinter here is Mr. Kennedy said Phineas in a tone of voice not devoid of dismay and trouble so I perceive said Lady Laura but there was no dismay or trouble in the tone of her voice in the countenance of Mr. Kennedy as he approached closer there was not much to be read only perhaps some slight addition of gloom or rather perhaps of that frigid propriety of moral demeanor for which he had always been conspicuous which had grown upon him at his marriage and which had been greatly increased by the double action of being made a cabinet minister and being eroded I am glad that your headache is better he said to his wife Phineas had risen from her seat to meet him Phineas also had risen and was now looking somewhat sheepish where he stood I came out because it was worse she said it irritated me so that I could not stand the house any longer I will send to calendar for Dr. McNuthry pray do nothing of the kind Robert I do not want Dr. McNuthry at all where there is illness medical advice is always expedient I am not ill a headache is not illness I had thought it was said Mr. Kennedy very dryly at any rate I would rather not have Dr. McNuthry I am sure it cannot do any good to climb up here in the heat of the sun have you been here long Phine all the morning hear or hear abouts I clampered up the lake and had a book in my pocket and you happened to come across him by accident Mr. Kennedy asked there was something so simple in the question that it's very simplicity proved that there was no suspicion yes by chance said Lady Laura but everyone at Laughlinter always comes up here if anyone ever were missing whom I wanted to find I should look I am going on towards Laughlinter for us to meet Blaine said Mr. Kennedy Blaine was the game-keeper if you don't mind the trouble, Finn I wish you'd take Lady Laura down to the house do not let her stay out in the heat I will take care that somebody goes over to calendar for Dr. McNuthry then Mr. Kennedy went off and Phineas was left with the charge of taking Lady Laura back to the house when Mr. Kennedy's hat had first appeared coming up the walk Phineas had been ready to proclaim himself prepared for any devotion in the service of Lady Laura indeed he had begun to reply with criminal tenderness to the indiscreet avowal which Lady Laura had made to him but he felt now after what had just occurred in the husband's presence that any show of tenderness of criminal tenderness was impossible the absence of all suspicion on the part of Mr. Kennedy had made Phineas feel that he was bound by all social laws to refrain from such tenderness Lady Laura began to descend the path before him without a word and went on and on as though she would have reached the house without speaking had he not addressed her does your head still pain you he asked of course it does I suppose he is right in saying that you should not be out in the heat I do not know it is not worthwhile to think about that he sends me in and so of course I must go and he tells you to take me and so of course you must take me would you wish that I should let you go alone yes I would only he will be sure to find it out and you must not tell him that you left me at my request do you think that I am afraid of him said Phineas yes I think you are I know that I am and that papa is and that his mother hardly dares to call her soul her own I do not know why you should escape Mr. Kennedy is nothing to me he is something to me and so I suppose I had better go on and now I shall have that hard man from the little town pawing me and covering everything with snuff and bidding me to take scotch-physic which seems to increase in quantity and nastiness as doses in England decrease and he will stand over me to see that I take it what the doctor from calendar no but Mr. Kennedy will if he advised me to have a hole in my glove-mended he would ask me before he went to bed whether it was done he never forgot anything in his life and was never unmindful of anything that I think will do Mr. Phine you have brought me out from the trees and that may be taken as bringing me home we shall hardly get scolded if we part here remember what I told you up above and remember also that it is in your power to do nothing else for me goodbye so he turned away towards the lake and let Lady Laura go across the wide lawn to the house by herself he had failed altogether in his intention of telling his friend of his love for Violet and had come to perceive that he could not for the present carry out that intention after what had passed was impossible for him to go to Lady Laura with a passionate tale of his longing for Violet Effingham if he were even to speak to her of love at all it must be quite of another love than that but he never would speak to her of love nor as he felt quite sure would she allow him to do so but what astounded him most as he thought of the interview which had just passed was the fact that the Lady Laura whom he had known whom he had thought he had known should have become so subject to such a man as Mr. Kennedy a man whom he had despised as being weak, irresolute and without a purpose for the day or two that he remained at Laughlinter he watched the family closely and became aware that Lady Laura had been right when she declared that her father was afraid of Mr. Kennedy I shall follow you almost immediately set the Earl confidentially to Phineas when the candidate for the borough took his departure from Laughlinter I don't like to be there just when the election is going on but I'll be at Salspeed to receive you the day afterwards Phineas took his leave from Mr. Kennedy with a warm expression of friendship on the part of his host and from Lady Laura with a mere touch of hand he tried to say a word but she was sullen or if not she put on some mood like to sullenness and said never a word to him on the day after the departure of Phineas Finn for Lawton Lady Laura Kennedy still had a headache she had complained of a headache ever since she had been at Laughlinter and Dr. McNuthry had been over more than once I wonder what it is that ails you said her husband standing over her in her own sitting-room upstairs it was a pretty room looking away to the mountains with just a glimpse of the lake to be caught from the window and it had been prepared for her with all the skill and taste of an accomplished upholsterer she had selected the room for herself soon after her engagement and had thanked her future husband with her sweetest smile for giving her the choice she had thanked him and told him that she always meant to be happy so happy in that room he was a man not much given to romance but he thought of this promise as he stood over her and asked after her health as far as he could see she had never been even comfortable since she had been at Laughlinter the truth came across his mind perhaps his wife was bored if so what was to be the future of his life and of hers he went up to London every year and to Parliament as a duty and then during some period of the recess would have his house full of guests as another duty but his happiness was to consist in such hours as these which seemed to inflict upon his wife the penalty of a continual headache a shadow of the truth came upon him what if his wife did not like living quietly at home as the mistress of her husband's house what if a headache was always to be the result of a simple performance of domestic duties more than a shadow of truth had come upon Lady Laura herself the dark cloud created by the entire truth was upon her making everything black and wretched around her she had asked herself a question or two and had discovered that she had no love for her husband that the kind of love which he intended to exact from her was insupportable to her in her entrance upon life she perceived that her father had already become weary of Mr. Kennedy and that lonely and sad as he would be at Salisbury by himself it was his intention to repudiate the idea of making a home at Laughlinter yes she would be deserted by everyone except of course by her husband and then she would throw herself on some early morning into the lake for life would be insupportable I wonder what it is that ails you said Mr. Kennedy nothing serious one can't always help having a head ache you know I don't think you take enough exercise Laura I would propose that you should walk four miles every day after breakfast I will always be ready to accompany you I have spoken to Dr. McNuthry I hate Dr. McNuthry why should you hate Dr. McNuthry Laura how can I tell why I do that is quite reason enough why you should not send for him to me you are unreasonable Laura one chooses a doctor on account of his reputation in his profession and that of Dr. McNuthry stands high I do not want any doctor but you are ill my dear I am not ill but you said you had a headache so for the last ten days having a headache is not being ill I only wish you would not talk of it and then perhaps I should get rid of it I cannot believe that headache in nine cases out of ten comes from the stomach though he said this saying it because it was the common place common sense sort of thing to say still at the very moment there was the shadow of the truce before his eyes what if this headache meant simple dislike to him and to his modes of life it is nothing of that sort said Lady Laura impatient at having her ailment inquired into with so much accuracy then what is it you cannot think that I can be happy to hear you complaining of a headache every day making it an excuse for absolute loneliness what is it that you want me to do she said jumping up from her seat set me a task and if I don't go mad over it I'll get through it there are the account books give them to me I don't suppose I can see the figures but I'll try to see them Laura this is unkind of you and ungrateful of course it is everything that is bad a pity that you did not find it out last year oh dear oh dear what am I to do then she threw herself down upon the sofa and put both her hands up to her temples I will send for Dr. McNuthry at once said Mr. Kennedy walking towards the door very slowly and speaking as slowly as he walked no do no such thing she said springing to her beat again and intercepting him before he reached the door if he comes I will not see him I give you my word that I will not speak to him if he comes you do not understand she said you do not understand at all what is it that I ought to understand he said that a woman does not like to be bothered he made no reply at once but stood there twisting the handle of the door and collecting his thoughts yes said he at last I am beginning to find that out and to find out also what it is that bothers a woman as you call it I can see now what it is that makes you a headache it is not the stomach you are quite right there it is the prospect of a quiet decent life to which the performance of certain homely duties Dr. McNethry is a learned man but I doubt whether he can do anything for such a malady you are quite right Robert he can do nothing it is a malady you must cure for yourself Laura and which is to be cured by perseverance if you can bring yourself to try but I cannot bring myself to try at all as I said do you mean to tell me Laura that you will make no effort to do your duty as my wife I mean to tell you that I will not try to cure a headache by doing sums that is all that I mean to say at this moment if you will leave me for a while so that I may lie down perhaps I shall be able to come to dinner he still hesitated to stand but if you go on scolding me she continued what I shall do is to go to bed directly you go away he hesitated for a moment longer and then left the room without another word End of Chapter 32 CHAPTERS 33 and 34 of Phineas Finn this is a LibriVox recording for more information or to volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Bob Sage Phineas Finn by Anthony Trollop Chapter 33 Mr. Slides Grievance Our hero was elected member of Lawton without any trouble to him or as far as he could see to anyone else he made one speech in the booth that was called a platform and that was all he was called upon to do Mr. Grating made a speech in proposing him and Mr. Short Ribs another in seconding him and these were all the speeches that were required the things seemed to be so very easy that he was afterwards almost offended when he was told that the bill for so insignificant a piece of work came to 247 pounds 13 shillings ninepence he had seen no occasion for spending even the odd 47 pounds but then he was a member for Lawton and as he passed that evening alone at the inn having dined in company with Messers Grating, Short Ribs and sundry other influential electors he began to reflect that after all it was not so very great a thing to be a member of Parliament it almost seemed that that which was so easily could not be of much value on the following day he went to the castle and was there when the Earl arrived they too were alone together and the Earl was very kind to him so you had no opponent after all said the great man of Lawton with a slight smile not the ghost of another candidate I did not think there would be they've tried it once or twice and have always failed there are only one or two in the place who like to go one way just because their neighbors go the other but in truth there's no conservative feeling in that place Phineas although he was at present moment the member for Lawton himself could not but enjoy the joke of this could there be any liberal feeling in such a place or indeed any political feeling whatsoever would not Messers Grating and Short Ribs have done just the same that happened that Lord Brentford had been a Tory peer they all seemed very obliging said Phineas in answer to the Earl yes they are there isn't a house in the town you know let for longer than seven years and most of them merely from year to year and do you know I haven't a farmer on the property with a lease not one and they don't want leases they know they're safe but I do like the people around me the same way of thinking as myself about politics on the second day after dinner the last evening of Finn's visit to Salisby the Earl fell suddenly into a confidential conversation about his daughter and his son and about Violet Effingham so sudden indeed and so confidential was the conversation that Phineas was almost silenced for a while a word or two had been said by the clocklinter of the beauty of the place and the vastness of the property I am almost afraid said Lord Brentford that Laura is not happy there I hope she is said Phineas he is so hard and dry and what I call exacting that is just the word for it now Laura has never been used to that with me she always had her own way to understand why her husband should treat her differently perhaps it is the temper of the man temper yes but what a bad prospect is that for her and she too has a temper and so he will find if he tries her too far I cannot stand Lothlinter I told Laura so fairly and it is one of those houses in which a man cannot call his hours his own I told Laura that I could not undertake it is very sad said Phineas yes indeed it is sad for her poor girl and very sad for me too I have no one else but Laura literally no one now I am divided from her it seems that she has been taken as much away from me as though her husband lived in China I have lost them both now I hope not my lord I say I have as to children I can perceive that he becomes more and more indifferent to me every day he thinks of me only as a man in his way who must die some day and may die soon you wrong him lord Brentford I do not wrong him at all why has he answered every offer I have made him with so much insolence as to make it impossible for me to put myself into further communion with him he thinks that you have wronged him yes because I have been unable to shut my eyes to his mode of living I was to go on paying his debts and taking no other notice whatsoever of his conduct I do not think he is in debt now because his sister the other day spent every shilling of her fortune in paying them she gave him forty thousand pounds do you think she would have married Kennedy but for that I don't prevent her I had said that I would not cripple my remaining years of life by raising the money and I would not go back from my word you and children might raise the money between you it would do no good now she has married Mr. Kennedy and the money is nothing to her or to him children might have put things right by marrying this effing of if he pleased I think he did his best there no he asked her to be his wife as a man asks for a railway ticket or a pair of gloves which he buys with a price and because she would not jump into his mouth he gave it up I don't believe he even really wanted to marry her I suppose he has some disreputable connection to prevent it nothing of the kind he would marry her tomorrow if he could my belief is that Miss Effingham is sincere in refusing him I don't doubt her sincerity and that she will never change ah well I don't agree with you and I dare say I know them both better than you do but everything goes against me I had set my heart upon it and therefore of course I shall be disappointed what is he going to do this autumn he is yachting now and who are with him I think the boat belongs to Captain Cole Pepper the greatest blaggard in all England a man who shoots pigeons and rides steeple chases and the worst of children is this that even if he didn't like the man and if he were tired of this sort of life he would go on just the same because he thinks it a fine thing not to give away this was so true that Phineas did not dare to contradict the statement and therefore said nothing I had some faint hope continued the Earl while Laura could always watch him because in his way he was fond of his sister but that is all over now she will have enough to do to watch herself Phineas had felt that the Earl had put him down rather sharply when he had said that Violet would never accept Lord Chiltern and he was therefore not a little surprised when Lord Brentford spoke again of mis-effing them the following morning holding in his hand a letter which he had just received from her they are to be Edloff Linter on the tenth he said and she purposes to come here for a couple of nights on her way Lady Baldock in all well, yes Lady Baldock in all I am not very fond of Lady Baldock but I will put up with her for a couple of days for the sake of having Violet she is more like a child of my own now than anybody else I shall not see her all autumn afterwards I cannot stand Lough Linter it will be better when the house is full you will be there I suppose well, no, I think not said Phineas you have had enough of it, have you Phineas made no reply to this but smiled slightly by Jove, I don't wonder at it said the Earl Phineas, who would have given all he had in the world to be staying in the same country house Violet Effingham could not explain how it had come to pass that he was obliged to absent himself I suppose you were asked said the Earl oh yes, I was asked nothing can be kinder than they are Kennedy told me that you were coming as a matter of course I explained to him after that said Phineas that I should not return I shall go over to Ireland I have a deal of hard reading to do and I can get through it there without interruption he went up from Salisby to London on that day and found himself quite alone in Mrs. Bunce's lodgings I mean not only that he was alone at his lodgings but he was alone at his club and alone in the streets July was not quite over and yet all the birds of passage had migrated Mr. Mildmay by his short session had half ruined the London tradesmen and had changed the summer mode of life of all those who account themselves to be anybody Phineas as he sat alone in his room felt himself to be nobody he had told the Earl that he was going to Ireland and to Ireland he must go because he had nothing else to do he had been asked indeed to join one or two parties in their autumn plans Mr. Monk had wanted him to go to the Pyrenees and Lord Chiltern had suggested that he should join the yacht but neither plan suited him it would have suited him to be at Laughlinter with Violet Effingham but Laughlinter was a barred house to him his old friend Lady Laura had told him not to come fither explaining with sufficient clearness her reasons for excluding him from the number of her husband's guests and as he thought of it the past scenes of his life became very marvelous to him twelve months since he would have given all the world love from Lady Laura and had barely dared to hope that such a word at some future day might possibly be spoken now such a word had in truth been spoken and it had come to be simply a trouble to him she had owned to him for in truth such had been the meaning of her warning to him that though she had married another man she had loved and did love him but in thinking of this he took no pride in it it was not till he had thought of it long that he began to ask himself whether he might not be justified in gathering from what happened some hope that Violet also might learn to love him he had thought so little of himself as to have been afraid at first to press his suit with Lady Laura might he not venture to think more of himself having learned how far he had succeeded but how was he to get at Violet Effingham for the moment at which he had left Salisby he had been angry with himself for not having asked Lord Brentford to allow him to remain there till after the Baldock Party should have gone on to Laughlinter the Earl who was very lonely in his house would have consented at once Phidias indeed was driven to confess to himself that success with Violet would at once have put an end to all his friendship with Lord Brentford as also to all his friendship with Lord Chiltern he would in such case be bound in honour to vacate his seat and give back Lofton to his offended patron but he would have given up much more than his seat for Violet Effingham at present however he had no means of getting at her to ask her the question he could hardly go to Laughlinter in opposition to the wishes of Lady Laura a little adventure happened to him in London but relieved the dullness of the days of the first week in August he remained in London till the middle of August half resolving to rush down to Salisbury when Violet Effingham should be there endeavouring to find some excuse for such a proceeding but racking his brains in vain and then there came about his little adventure the adventure was commenced by the receipt of the following letter Banner of the People Office 1860 my dear Finn I must say I think you have treated me badly and without that sort of brotherly fairness which we on the public press expect from one another however, perhaps we can come to an understanding and if so things may yet go smoothly give me a turn and I am not at all adverse to give you one will you come to me here or shall I call upon you yours always Q.S. Phineas was not only surprised but disgusted also at the receipt of this letter he could not imagine what was the deed by which he had offended Mr. Slide he thought over all the circumstances of his short connection with the People's Banner but could remember nothing which might have graded offence but his disgust was greater than his surprise he thought that he had done nothing and said nothing to justify Q.S. Slide in calling him Dear Finn he who had Lady Laura's secret in his keeping he who hoped to be the possessor of violent Effingham's affections he to be called Dear Finn by such a one as Q.S. Slide he soon made up his mind that he would not answer the note but would go at once to the People's Banner office at the hour at which Mr. Slide was always there he certainly would not write to Dear Slide and until he had heard something more of this cause of offence he would not make an enemy forever by calling the man Dear Sir he went to the office of the People's Banner and found Mr. Slide ensconced in a little glass covered writing an article for the next day's copy I suppose you're very busy said Phineas inserting himself into the difficulty on to a little stool in the corner of the cupboard not so particular but what I'm glad to see you you shoot don't you shoot said Phineas it would not be possible that Mr. Slide was intending after this abrupt fashion to propose a duel with pistols grouse and pheasants them sort of things asked Mr. Slide the 12th or the 20th for grouse and Scotland the 12th said Phineas what makes you ask that just now I'm doing a letter about it advising men not to shoot too many of the young birds and showing that they'll have none next year if they do I had a fellow here just now who knew all about it and he put down a lot but I forgot to make him tell me the day of beginning what's a good place to date from Phineas suggested calendar or sterling sterling's too much of a town isn't it calendar sounds better for game I think so the letter which was to save the young grouse was dated from calendar and Mr. Quinta Slide having written the word threw down his pen came off his steel and rushed at once at his subject well now Mr. Finn he said don't you know that you treated me badly treated you badly but Lofton Phineas as he repeated the words was quite in the dark as to Mr. Slide's meaning did Mr. Slide intend to convey a reproach because Phineas had not personally sent some tidings of the election to the people's banner very badly said Mr. Slide with his arms a Kimbo very badly indeed men on the press together do expect that they're to be stuck by and not thrown over I say what's the good of a brotherhood if it ain't to be brotherhood upon my word I don't know what you mean said Phineas didn't I tell you that I had Lofton in my eye said Quintas oh it's very well to say ho and look guilty but didn't I tell you I never heard of such nonsense in my life nonsense how on earth could you have stood for Lofton what interest would you have there you could not even have found an elector to propose you now I'll tell you what I'll do Phine I think you've thrown me over most shabby but I won't stand about that you shall have Lofton this session if you'll promise to make way for me after the next election if you'll agree to that we'll have a special leader to say how well lord what's his name has done with the borough and he'll be your organ through the whole session I never heard such nonsense in my life in the first place Lofton is safe to be in the schedule of reduced boroughs it will be thrown into the county or joined with a group I'll stand the chance of that will you agree agree no it's the most absurd proposal that was ever made you might as well ask me whether I should agree that you should go to heaven go to heaven if you can I should say I have not the slightest objection I agree very well said Quintus slide very well now we understand each other and that's all that I desire I think that I can show you what is to come among gentlemen of the press and then to throw them over good morning Phineas quite satisfied at the result of the interview as regarded himself and by no means sorry that there should have arisen a cause of separation between Mr. Quintus slide and his dear Phine shook off a little dust from his foot as he left the office of the people's banner and resolved that in the future he would attempt to make no connection in that direction as he returned home he told himself that a member of parliament should be altogether independent of the press on the second morning after his meeting with his late friend he saw the result of his independence there was a startling article a tremendous article showing the pressing necessity of immediate reform and proving the necessity by an illustration of the burrow mongering rottenness of the present system when such a patron as Lord Brentford himself a cabinet minister with a sinecure could by his mere word put into the house such a stick as Phineas Finn struggled to stand on his legs before the speaker but had wanted both the courage and the capacity nothing further could surely be wanted to prove that the reform bill of 1832 required to be supplemented by some more energetic measure Phineas laughed as he read the article and declared to himself that the joke was a good joke but nevertheless he suffered Mr. Quintus slide when he was really anxious to use his thong earnestly could generally raise a wail End of Chapter 33 Recording by Bob Sage Phineas Finn by Anthony Trollop Chapter 34 Was he honest? On the 10th of August Phineas Finn did return to Lofton he went down by the mail train on the night of the 10th having telegraphed to the inn for a bed and was up eating his breakfast in that hospitable house at nine o'clock the landlord and landlady with all their staff were at a loss to imagine what had brought down their member again so quickly to his burrow but the reader who will remember that Lady Baldock with her daughter and Violet Effingham were to pass the 11th of the month at Salisby may perhaps be able to make a guess on the subject Phineas had been thinking was it the Lofton ever since he had been up in town but he could suggest to himself no reason to be given to Lord Brentford for his sudden reappearance the Earl had been very kind to him but he had said nothing which could justify his young friend in and out of Salisby Castle at pleasure without invitation and without notice Phineas was so well aware of this himself that often as he had half resolved during his service to return to Salisby so often had he determined that he could not do so he could think of no excuse then the heavens favored him and he received a letter from Lord Chiltern in which there was a message for Lord Brentford if you see my father tell him that I am ready at any moment to do what is necessary for raising the money for Laura taking this as his excuse he returned to Lofton as chance arranged it he met the Earl standing on the great steps before his own castle door what Phine, is this you I thought you were in Ireland not yet my lord as you see then he opened his budget at once and blushed at his own hypocrisy as he went on with his story he had, he said felt the message from Chiltern to be so all-important that he could not bring himself to go over to Ireland he urged upon the Earl that he might learn from this how anxious Lord Chiltern was to affect a reconciliation when it occurred to him he said that there might be a hope of doing anything towards such an object he could not go to Ireland leaving the good work behind him in love and war all things are fair so he declared to himself but as he did so he felt that his story was so weak that he put him in admittance into the castle in this he was completely wrong the Earl swallowing the bait put his arm through that of the intruder and walking with him through the paths of the shrubbery at length confessed that he would be glad to be reconciled to his son if it were possible let him come here and she shall be here also said the Earl speaking of Violet to this Phineas could say nothing out loud but he told himself all should be fair between them he would take no dishonest advantage of Lord Chiltern he would give Lord Chiltern the whole message as it was given to him by Lord Brentford but should it so turn out that he himself got an opportunity of saying to Violet all that he had come to say and should it also turn out an event which he acknowledged to himself to be most unlikely that Violet did not reject him then how could he write his letter to Lord Chiltern so he resolved that the letter should be written before he saw Violet but how could he write such a letter and instantly afterwards do that which would be false to the spirit of the letter so written could he bid Lord Chiltern come home to woo Violet Effingham and instantly go forth to woo her for himself he found that he could not do so unless he told the whole truth to Lord Chiltern so he went away could he carry out his project and satisfy his own idea of what was honest the Earl bade him send to the hotel for his things the Balduk people are all here you know but they go very early tomorrow then Phineas declared that he also must return to London very early on tomorrow but in the meantime he would go to the inn and fetch his things the Earl thanked him again Phineas and Phineas blushing as he received the thanks went back and wrote his letter to Lord Chiltern it was an elaborate letter written as regards the first and larger portion of it with words intended to bring the prodigal son back to the father's home and everything was said about Miss Effingham that could or should have been said then on the last page he told his own story now he said he went on to explain to his friend in the plainest language that he could use his own position I have loved her he said for six months and I am here with the express intention of asking her to take me the chances are ten to one that she refuses me I do not deprecate your anger if you choose to be angry but I am endeavouring to treat you well and I ask you to do the same by me I must convey to you your father's message and after doing so I cannot address myself to Miss Effingham without telling you I should feel myself to be false were I to do so in the event, the probable may, almost certain event of my being refused I shall trust you to keep my secret do not quarrel with me if you can help it but if you must I will be ready then he posted the letter and went up to the castle he was only the one day for his action and he knew that Violet was watched by Lady Baldock as by a dragon he was told that the Earl was out with the young ladies and was shown to his room I am going to the drawing room he found Lady Baldock with whom he had been in a certain degree a favourite and was soon deeply engaged in a conversation as to the practicability of shutting up all the breweries and distilleries by act of parliament lunch relieved him and brought the young ladies in a two Miss Effingham seemed to be really glad to see him and even Miss Borum Lady Baldock's daughter was very gracious to him for the Earl had been speaking well of his young member and Phineas had in a way grown into the good graces of sober and discreet people after lunch they were to ride the Earl that is and Violet Lady Baldock and her daughter were to have the carriage I can mount you Phine if you'd like it said the Earl of course you'll like it said Violet do you suppose Mr Phine will object to ride with me in Salisbury Woods it won't be the first time will it Violet said to Lady Baldock you have the most singular way of talking I suppose I have said Violet but I don't think I could change it now Mr Phine knows me too well to mind it much it was past five before they were close back and up to that time Phineas had not found himself alone with Violet Effingham for a moment they had sat together after lunch in the dining room for nearly an hour and had sauntered into the hall and knocked about the billiard bowls and then stood together at the open doors of a conservatory but Lady Baldock or Miss Borum had always been there nothing could be more pleasant than Miss Effingham's words or more familiar than her manner she expressed strong delight at his success in getting a seat in Parliament and had talked to him about the Kennedys as though they had created some special bond of union between her and Phineas which ought to make them intimate but for all that she could not be got to separate herself from Lady Baldock and when she was told that if she meant to ride she must go and dress herself she went at once but he thought that he might have a chance on horseback after they had been out about a half an hour chance did favor him for a while he rode behind with the carriage calculating that by his so doing the Earl would be put off his guard and would be disposed after a while to change places with him and so it fell out at a certain fall of ground in the park where the road turned round and crossed a bridge over the little river the carriage came up with the first two horses and Lady Baldock spoke a word to the Earl then Violet pulled up allowing the vehicle to pass the bridge first and in this way she and Phineas were brought together and in this way they rode on but he was aware that he must greatly increase the distance between them and the others of their party before he could dare to plead his suit and even were that done he felt that he would not know how to plead it on horseback they had gone some half mile in this way when they reached a spot on which a green ride led away from the main road through the trees to the left you remember this place do you not? said Violet Phineas declared that he remembered it well I must go round to the woodsman's cottage you won't mind coming Phineas said that he would not mind and trotted on to tell them in the carriage where is she going? asked Lady Baldock and then when Phineas explained she begged the Earl to go back to Violet the Earl, feeling the absurdity of it, declared that Violet knew her way very well herself and thus Phineas got the opportunity they rode on almost without speaking for nearly a mile cantering through the trees and then they took another turn to the right and came upon the cottage they rode to the door and spoke a word or two to the woman there and then passed on I always come here when I'm at Salisby said Violet that I may teach myself to think kindly of Lord Children I understand it all said Phineas he used to be so nice and is so still I believe only that he has taught himself to be so rough will he ever change? do you think? Phineas knew that in this emergency it was his special duty to be honest I think he would be changed all together if we could bring him here so that he should live among his friends do you think he would? we must put our heads together and do it don't you think that it is to be done? Phineas replied that he thought it was to be done I'll tell you the truth at once Miss Effingham he said you can do it by a single word yes yes she said but I do not mean that without that it is absurd you know no father should make such a condition as that Phineas said that he thought it was absurd and then they wrote on again cantering through the wood he had been bold to speak to her about Lord Children as he had done and she had answered just as he would have wished to be answered but how could he press his suit for himself while she was cantering by his side presently they came to rough ground over which they were forced to walk and he was close by her side Mr. Phine she said I wonder whether I may ask a question any question he replied is there a quarrel between you and Lady Laura none or between you and him no none we are greater allies than ever then why are you not going to be at Laughlinter she has written me expressly saying that you would not be there he paused a moment before he replied did not suit he said at last it is a secret then yes it is a secret you are not angry with me angry no it is not a secret of my own or I should not keep it from you perhaps I can guess it she said but I will not try I will not even think of it the cause whatever it be has been full of sorrow to me I have left hand to be at Laughlinter this autumn are you so fond of it I should have been staying there with you he said he paused and for a moment there was no word spoken by either of them but he could perceive that the hand in which she held her whip was playing with her horse's mane with a nervous movement when I found how it must be and that I must miss you I rushed down here for a moment and now I am here I do not dare to speak to you of myself they were now beyond the rocks and violet without speaking a word again put her horse into a trot he was by her side in a moment but he could not see her face have you not a word to say to me he asked no no she replied not a word when you speak to me like that carriage come we will join them then she cantered on and he followed her till they reached the Earl and Lady Baldock and Miss Borum I have done my devotions now so miss having him and I am ready to return to ordinary life Phineas could not find another moment in which to speak to her though he spent the evening with her and stood over her as she sang at the Earl's request and pressed her hand as she went to bed he could not draw from her either a word or a look End of Chapter 34 Recording by Bob Sage