es with more of ease and apparent fitness than men had given them credit for possessing. Mr Mildmay, Mr Gresham, and Mr Monk were the best friends in the world, swearing by each other in their own ho

ful - in thinking that she too was perhaps, in some degree, politically powerful; and she had received considerable increase to such hopes when her father accepted the Privy Seal. The Earl himself was not an ambitious man, and, but for his daughter, would have severed himself altogether from political life before this time. He was an unhappy man - being an obstinate man, and having in his obstinacy quarrelled with his only son. In his unhappiness he would have kep

o faint and creamy that you would hardly dare to call it by its name. Her mouth was perfect, not small enough to give that expression of silliness which is so common, but almost divine, with the temptation of its full, rich, ruby lips. Her teeth, which she but seldom showed, were very even and very white, and there rested on her chin the dearest dimple that ever acted as a loadstar to men's eyes. The fault of her face, if it had a fault, was in her nose - which was a little too sharp, and perhaps too small. A woman who wanted to depreciate Violet Effingham had once called her a pug-nosed puppet; but I, as her chronicler, deny that she was pug-nosed - and all the world who knew her soon came to understand that she was no puppet. In figure she was small, but not so small as she looked to be. Her feet and hands were delicately fine, and there was a softness about her whole person, an apparent compressibility, which seemed to indicate that she might go into very small compass. Into what compass and how compressed, there were very many men who held very different opinions. Violet Effingham

id the other, as he

the same. You know

as when you and I, when we see something nice in a shop, call it a dear duck of a thing, and tell somebody to g

ery dear thi

oo close to tell - and then there will be cutting of throats, and a mighty hubbub, and a real tragedy. I shall

do that

were possible, without compromising myself, I should like he

u be so wic

l as possible. She would turn to poor Gussy. "Augusta," she would say, 'I always expected it. I always did.' Then I should come out and curtsey to her, and say so pr

er, I shall probab

at there is anythi

be settled. But I am not talking about myself. He has told me that if

e will p

know him to br

about him, my de

him - much better than most girls know the men they marry.

marry him because

und to marry him -

le forward motion of her face, as though she were specially eager t

ou are nearer to loving

like them so much that if I go to a house or to a party it is quite a matter of importance to me whether this man or that will or will not be there. And then I suppose I flirt with them. At least Augusta t

be married some day

lly escape among my friends, that is not sufficient. I am beginning to think that it would be pleasant to have a house of

ooking at her would have thought that the toy was much more to her than the conversation. Lady Laura was sitting upright, in a common chair, at a table not far from her companion, and was manifestly devoting herself altogether to the subject that was being discussed between them. She had taken no lounging, easy attitude, she had found n

t, you must choose some

y dear, I certainly c

ou mean to ma

I suppose I s

ould be in ea

s very much like a house or a horse. You don't take your house because it's the best house in the world, but because just then you want a house. You go and see a house, and if it's very nas

not made up

I told her that I meant to have a pair of ponies, she merely threw up her hands and grunted. Sh

ean by cursing

g, it would lead to my being everlastingly - you know

did yo

he perdition has gone with him, for I don't like Mary Rivers at all. I had to give the poor beasty to somebody, and Mary Rivers happened to be t

hen among the other favourites?" s

y that any man may have a chance. Why do yo

r whom he has ever cared, and because he loves you with all his heart; and because his

, my d

el

e angry if I

hat I have said, you ha

are reasons why he should marry me -

love for y

sper. "If he did not love me, that, if known to me, should be a reason why I

do

he ten. And as for that

ow what

sometimes think that I shall have quite enough to do to save myself.

urance that you will alwa

sure that the jockey who takes me in hand ought

th it. What ha

use, and talks about nothing but church rates and suffrage, is to me intolerable. I prefer men who are improper, and all that sort of thing. If I were a man myself I should go in for everything I ought to leave alone. I know I

e very first among us - wou

t tense, and Lady Brentford in the future, would

you are,

ike well enough to be Chiltern's friend. I am his friend. Nothing that any one has ever said of him has estranged me from him. I have fought for him till I have been black in

could

child and a man need not mind themselves. Let them do what they may, they can be set right again. Let them fall as they will, you can put th

ake you from

hand me over

hat you do not know Oswa

I merely intend to point out that he is a dangerous wild beast. I daresay he is noble-min

nless you will be contented with the prig you described. Of cou

he is on

part, and would entir

other things o

roxysms of evil life which

s are so dangerous!

circumstances, and I give you my word that every shilling should be paid. He has never lied - and he has t

a dangerous habit. A paroxysm of spending money

el

ld make a catalogue of y

ay that he dri

s so. And as I always find her sayings to be un

f it be said of

paroxysm, jus

t, when I am taking his pa

to be his wife, it i

need not ri

love you for what you are doing. Would not I do the same

s not true that he is a - drunkard. Look at his hand, which is as steady as yours. Look at his ey

he would do fear

spirit. I believe as I sit here that if he were married

, that there will be s

l be a risk. Is ther

hink," said Violet. Then the door was opened, and the man