CHAPTER LXXIX.
Diamonds Are Diamonds.
Kate and Alice, as they drew near to their journey's end, were botha little flurried, and I cannot but own that there was cause fornervousness. Kate Vavasor was to meet Mr. Grey for the first time. Mr.Grey was now staying at Matching and was to remain there until a weekof his marriage. He was then to return to Cambridgeshire for a dayor two, and after that was to become a guest at the rector's houseat Matching the evening before the ceremony. "Why not let him comehere at once?" Lady Glencora had said to her husband. "It is suchnonsense, you know." But Mr. Palliser would not hear of it. Mr.Palliser, though a Radical in public life, would not for worldstransgress the social laws of his ancestors; and so the matter wassettled. Kate on this very day of her arrival at Matching would thussee Mr. Grey for the first time, and she could not but feel that shehad been the means of doing Mr. Grey much injury. She had moreoversomething,--not much indeed, but still something,--of that feelingwhich made the Pallisers terrible to the imagination, because oftheir rank and wealth. She was a little afraid of the Pallisers, butof Mr. Grey she was very much afraid. And Alice also was not at herease. She would fain have prevented so very quick a marriage had shenot felt that now,--after all the trouble that she had caused,--therewas nothing left for her but to do as others wished. When a dayhad been named she had hardly dared to demur, and had allowed LadyGlencora to settle everything as she had wished. But it was notonly the suddenness of her marriage which dismayed her. Its natureand attributes were terrible to her. Both Lady Midlothian and theMarchioness of Auld Reekie were coming. When this was told to her byletter she had no means of escape. "Lady Macleod is right in nearlyall that she says," Lady Glencora had written to her. "At any rate,you needn't be such a fool as to run away from your cousins, simplybecause they have handles to their names. You must take the thingas it comes." Lady Glencora, moreover, had settled for her the listof bridesmaids. Alice had made a petition that she might be allowedto go through the ceremony with only one,--with none but Kate toback her. But she ought to have known that when she consented to bemarried at Matching,--and indeed she had had very little power ofresisting that proposition,--all such questions would be decided forher. Two daughters therefore of Lady Midlothian were to act, LadyJane and Lady Mary, and the one daughter of the Marchioness, who wasalso a Lady Jane, and there were to be two Miss Howards down fromLondon,--girls who were known both to Alice and to Lady Glencora,and who were in some distant way connected with them both. A greatattempt was made to induce the two Miss Pallisers to join the bevy,but they had frankly pleaded their age. "No woman should stand up asa bridesmaid," said the strong-minded Sophy, "who doesn't mean to getmarried if she can. Now I don't mean to get married, and I won't putmyself among the young people." Lady Glencora was therefore obligedto submit to do the work with only six. But she swore that theyshould be very smart. She was to give all the dresses, and Mr.Palliser was to give a brooch and an armlet to each. "She is the onlyperson in the world I want to pet, except yourself," Lady Glencorahad said to her husband, and he had answered by giving her _carteblanche_ as regards expense.
Alice and her bridesmaids.]
All this was very terrible to Kate, who had not much feminine tastefor finery. Of the dress she had heard,--of the dress which waswaiting at Matching to be made up after her arrival,--though as yetshe knew nothing of the trinkets. There are many girls who couldsubmit themselves at a moment to the kindness of such a woman as LadyGlencora. Perhaps most girls would do so, for of all such women inthe world, Lady Glencora was the least inclined to patronize or tobe condescending in her kindnesses. But Kate Vavasor was one to whomsuch submission would not come easily.
"I wish I was out of this boat," she said to Alice in the train.
"So that I might be shipwrecked alone!"
"No; there can be no shipwreck to you. When the day of action comesyou will be taken away, up to heaven, upon the clouds. But what arethey to do with me?"
"You'll find that Glencora will not desert you. You can't conceivewhat taste she has."
"I'd sooner be bridesmaid to Charlie Fairstairs. I would indeed.My place in the world is not among Cabinet Ministers and oldcountesses."
"Nor mine."
"Yes; it seems that yours is to be there. They are your cousins, andyou have made at any rate one great friend among them,--one who is tobe the biggest of them all."
"And you are going to throw me over, Kate?"
"To tell the truth, Alice, I sometimes think you had better throw meover. I know it would be sad,--sad for both, but perhaps it would bebetter. I have done you much harm and no good; and now where I amgoing I shall disgrace you." She talked even of getting out at somestation and returning, and would have done so had not Alice madeit impossible. As it was, the evening found her and Alice togetherentering the park-gate at Matching, in Lady Glencora's carriage.Lady Glencora had sent a note to the station. "She could not comeherself," she said, "because Mr. Palliser was a little fussy. You'llunderstand, dear, but don't say a word." Alice didn't say a word,having been very anxious not to lower Mr. Palliser in her cousin'srespect.
None of the Lady Janes and Lady Marys were at Matching when theyarrived. Indeed, there was no guest there but Mr. Grey, for which Katefelt herself to be extremely grateful. Mr. Grey came into the hall,standing behind Mr. Palliser, who stood behind his wife. Alice passedby them both, and was at once in her lover's arms. "Then I mustintroduce myself," said Lady Glencora to Kate, "and my husband also."This she did, and no woman in England could have excelled her inthe manner of doing it. "I have heard so much about you," said she,still keeping Kate's hand, "and I know how good you've been;--andhow wicked you have been," she added in a whisper. Then Mr. Grey wasbrought up to her, and they were introduced. It was not till somedays had passed over them that she felt herself at all at her easewith Mr. Grey, and I doubt whether she ever reached that point with Mr.Palliser; but Lady Glencora she knew, and liked, and almost loved,from the first moment of their meeting.
"Have you heard the news?" said Lady Glencora to Alice, the firstminute that they were alone. Alice, of course, had not heard thenews. "Mr. Bott is going to marry Mrs. Marsham. There is such a rowabout it. Plantagenet is nearly mad. I never knew him so disgusted inmy life. Of course I don't dare to tell him so, but I am so heartilyrejoiced. You know how I love them both, and I could not possiblywish any better reward for either." Alice, who had personally knownmore of Mr. Bott than of Mrs. Marsham, said that she couldn't but besorry for the lady. "She's old enough to be his mother," said LadyGlencora, "otherwise I really don't know any people better suitedto each other. The best is, that Mr. Bott is doing it to regain hisfooting with Mr. Palliser! I am sure of that;--and Plantagenet willnever speak to him again. But, Alice, there is other news."
"What other news?"
"It is hardly news yet, and of course I am very wicked to tell you.But I feel sure Mr. Grey knows all about it, and if I didn't tell, hewould."
"He hasn't told me anything yet."
"He hasn't had time; and when he does, you mustn't pretend to know.I believe Mr. Palliser will certainly be Chancellor of the Exchequerbefore next month, and, if so, he'll never come in for Silverbridgeagain."
"But he'll be in Parliament; will he not?"
"Oh, yes; he'll be in Parliament. I don't understand all about it.There is a man going out for the county,--for Barsetshire,--some manwhom the Duke used to favour, and he wants Plantagenet to come in forthat. I can't understand what difference it makes."
"But he will be in the Cabinet?"
"Oh, yes. But who do you suppose is to be the new Member forSilverbridge?"
"I can't guess," said Alice. Though, of course, she did guess.
"Mind, I don't know it. He has never told me. But he told me thathe had been with the Duke, and asked the Duke to let Jeffrey havethe seat. The Duke became as black as thunder, and said that Jeffreyhad no fortune. In short, he wouldn't hear of it. Poor Jeffrey!we must try to do something for him, but I really don
't know how.Then the Duke said, that Plantagenet should put in for Silverbridgesome friend who would support himself; and I fancy,--mind it's onlyfancy,--but I fancy that Plantagenet mentioned to his Grace--one Mr.Grey."
"Oh, Glencora!"
"They've been talking together till sometimes I think Mr. Grey isworse than Plantagenet. When Mr. Grey began to say something the othernight in the drawing-room about sugar, I knew it was all up with you.He'll be a financial Secretary; you see if he isn't; or a lord ofsomething, or an under-somebody of State; and then some day he'llgo mad, either because he does or because he doesn't get into theCabinet." Lady Glencora, as she said all this, knew well that thenews she was giving would please her cousin better than any othertidings that could be told.
By degrees the guests came. The two Miss Howards were the first, andthey expressed themselves as delighted with Lady Glencora's tasteand with Mr. Palliser's munificence,--for at that time the broochesand armlets had been produced. Kate had said very little aboutthese matters, but the Miss Howards were loud in their thanks. Butthey were good-humoured, merry girls, and the house was pleasanterafter their arrival than it had been before. Then came the dreadedpersonage,--the guest,--Lady Midlothian! On the subject of LadyMidlothian Kate had really become curious. She had a real desireto see the face and gait of the woman, and to hear her voice. LadyMidlothian came, and with her came Lady Jane and Lady Mary. I am byno means sure that Lady Jane and Lady Mary were not nearly as old asthe two Miss Pallisers; but they were not probably so fully resolvedas to the condition of their future modes of living as were those twoladies, and if so, they were not wrong to shine as bridesmaids. Withthem Alice had made some slight acquaintance during the last springin London, and as they were now to attend upon her as the bride theywere sufficiently gracious. To Kate, too, they were civil enough, andthings, in public, went on very pleasantly at Matching.
A scene there was, of course, between Alice and Lady Midlothian;--ascene in private. "You must go through it," Lady Glencora had said,with jocose mournfulness; "and why should you not let her jump uponyou a little? It can't hurt you now."
"But I don't like people to jump upon me," Alice said.
"And why are you to have everything just as you like it? You are sounreasonable. Think how I've been jumped on! Think what I have bornefrom them! If you knew the things she used to say to me, you wouldnot be such a coward. I was sent down to her for a week, and had nopower of helping myself. And the Marchioness used to be sent for tolook at me, for she never talks. She used to look at me, and groan,and hold up her hands till I hated her the worst of the two. Thinkwhat they did to me, and yet they are my dear friends now. Why shouldyou escape altogether?"
Alice could not escape altogether, and therefore was closeted withLady Midlothian for the best part of an hour. "Did Lady Macleod readto you what I wrote?" the Countess asked.
"Yes,--that is, she gave me the letter to read."
"And I hope you understand me, Alice?"
"Oh, yes, I suppose so."
"You suppose so, my dear! If you only suppose so I shall notbe contented. I want you to appreciate my feelings towards youthoroughly. I want you to know that I am most anxious as to yourfuture life, and that I am thoroughly satisfied with the step you arenow taking." The Countess paused, but Alice said nothing. Her tonguewas itching to tell the old woman that she cared nothing for thisexpression of satisfaction but she was aware that she had done muchthat was deserving of punishment, and resolved to take this as partof her penance. She was being jumped upon, and it was unpleasant;but, after all that had happened, it was only fitting that she shouldundergo much unpleasantness. "Thoroughly satisfied," continued theCountess; "and now, I only wish to refer, in the slightest mannerpossible, to what took place between us when we were both of us underthis roof last winter."
"Why refer to it at all, Lady Midlothian?"
"Because I think it may do good, and because I cannot make youunderstand that I have thoroughly forgiven everything, unless I tellyou that I have forgiven that also. On that occasion I had come allthe way from Scotland on purpose to say a few words to you."
"I am so sorry that you should have had the trouble."
"I do not regret it, Alice. I never do regret doing anything whichI believe to have been my duty. There is no knowing how far what Isaid then may have operated for good." Alice thought that she knewvery well, but she said nothing. "I must confess that what I thenunderstood to be your obstinacy,--and I must say also, if I tell thetruth, your indifference to--to--to all prudential considerationswhatever, not to talk of appearances and decorum, and I might say,anything like a high line of duty or moral conduct,--shocked mevery much. It did, indeed, my dear. Taking it altogether, I don'tknow that I was ever more shocked in my life. The thing was soinscrutable!" Here Lady Midlothian held up one hand in a manner thatwas truly imposing; "so inscrutable! But that is all over now. Whatwas personally offensive to myself I could easily forgive, and I doforgive it. I shall never think of it any more." Here Lady Midlothianput up both her hands gently, as though wafting the injury away intothe air. "But what I wish specially to say to you is this; your ownconduct is forgiven also!" Here she paused again, and Alice winced.Who was this dreadful old Countess;--what was the Countess to her,that she should be thus tormented with the old woman's forgiveness?John Grey had forgiven her, and of external forgiveness that wasenough. She had not forgiven herself,--would never forgive herselfaltogether; and the pardon of no old woman in England could assisther in doing so. She had sinned, but she had not sinned against LadyMidlothian. "Let her jump upon you, and have done with it," LadyGlencora had said. She had resolved that it should be so, but it wasvery hard to keep her resolution.
"The Marchioness and I have talked it over," continued LadyMidlothian, "and she has asked me to speak for both her and myself."There is comfort at any rate in that, thought Alice, who had neveryet seen the Marchioness. "We have resolved that all those littlemistakes should be as though they had never been committed. We shallboth be most happy to receive you and your husband, who is, I mustsay, one of the most gentlemanlike looking men I ever saw. It seemsthat he and Mr. Palliser are on most friendly,--I may say, mostconfidential terms, and that must be quite a pleasure to you."
"It's a pleasure to him, which is more to the purpose," said Alice.
"Exactly so. And now, my dear, everything is forgiven and shall beforgotten. Come and give me a kiss, and let me wish you joy." Alicedid as she was bidden, and accepted the kiss and the congratulations,and a little box of jewellery which Lady Midlothian produced from outof her pocket. "The diamonds are from the Marchioness, my dear, whosemeans, as you doubtless are aware, greatly exceed my own. The garnetsare from me. I hope they may both be worn long and happily."
I hardly know which was the worst, the lecture, the kiss, or thepresent. The latter she would have declined, had it been possible;but it was not possible. When she had agreed to be married atMatching she had not calculated the amount of punishment which wouldthereby be inflicted on her. But I think that, though she bore itimpatiently, she was aware that she had deserved it. Although shefretted herself greatly under the infliction of Lady Midlothian, sheacknowledged to herself, even at the time, that she deserved allthe lashes she received. She had made a fool of herself in her vainattempt to be greater and grander than other girls, and it was onlyfair that her folly should be in some sort punished before it wasfully pardoned. John Grey punished it after one fashion by decliningto allude to it, or to think of it, or to take any account of it. Andnow Lady Midlothian had punished it after another fashion, and Alicewent out of the Countess's presence with sundry inward exclamationsof "mea culpa," and with many unseen beatings of the breast.
Two days before the ceremony came the Marchioness and her augustdaughter. Her Lady Jane was much more august than the other LadyJane;--very much more august indeed. She had very long flaxen hair,and very light blue eyes, which she did not move frequently, and shespoke very little,--one may almost say not at all, and she neversee
med to do anything. But she was very august, and was, as all theworld knew, engaged to marry the Duke of Dumfriesshire, who, thoughtwice her own age, was as yet childless, as soon as he should havecompleted his mourning for his first wife. Kate told her cousin thatshe did not at all know how she should ever stand up as one in agroup with so august a person as this Lady Jane, and Alice herselffelt that such an attendant would quite obliterate her. But Lady Janeand her mother were both harmless. The Marchioness never spoke toKate and hardly spoke to Alice, and the Marchioness's Lady Jane wasquite as silent as her mother.
On the morning of this day,--the day on which these very augustpeople came,--a telegram arrived at the Priory calling for Mr.Palliser's immediate presence in London. He came to Alice full ofregret, and behaved himself very nicely. Alice now regarded him quiteas a friend. "Of course I understand," she said, "and I know that thebusiness which takes you up to London pleases you." "Well; yes;--itdoes please me. I am glad,--I don't mind saying so to you. But itdoes not please me to think that I shall be away at your marriage.Pray make your father understand that it was absolutely unavoidable.But I shall see him, of course, when I come back. And I shall see youtoo before very long."
"Shall you?"
"Oh yes."
"And why so?"
"Because Mr. Grey must be at Silverbridge for his election.--Butperhaps I ought not tell you his secrets." Then he took her into thebreakfast-parlour and showed her his present. It was a service ofSevres china,--very precious and beautiful. "I got you these thingsbecause Grey likes china."
"So do I like china," said she, with her face brighter than he hadever yet seen it.
"I thought you would like them best," said he. Alice looking up athim with her eyes full of tears told him that she did like them best;and then, as he wished her all happiness, and as he was stooping overher to kiss her, Lady Glencora came in.
"I beg pardon," said she, "I was just one minute too soon was Inot?"
"She would have them sent here and unpacked," said Mr. Palliser,"though I told her it was foolish."
"Of course I would," said Lady Glencora. "Everything shall beunpacked and shown. It's easy to get somebody to pack them again."
Much of the wedding tribute had already been deposited with thechina, and among other things there were the jewels that LadyMidlothian had brought.
"Upon my word, her ladyship's diamonds are not to be sneezed at,"said Lady Glencora.
"I don't care for diamonds," said Alice.
Then Lady Glencora took up the Countess's trinkets, and shook herhead and turned up her nose. There was a wonderfully comic expressionon her face as she did so.
"To me they are just as good as the others," said Alice.
"To me they are not, then," said Lady Glencora. "Diamonds arediamonds, and garnets are garnets; and I am not so romantic but whatI know the difference."
On the evening before the marriage Alice and Lady Glencora walked forthe last time through the Priory ruins. It was now September, and theevenings were still long, so that the ladies could get out upon thelawn after dinner. Whether Lady Glencora would have been allowed towalk through the ruins so late as half-past eight in the evening ifher husband had been there may be doubtful, but her husband was awayand she took this advantage of his absence.
"Do you remember that night we were here?" said Lady Glencora.
"When shall I forget it; or how is it possible that such a nightshould ever be forgotten?"
"No; I shall never forget it. Oh dear, what wonderful things havehappened since that! Do you ever think of Jeffrey?"
"Yes;--of course I think of him. I did like him so much. I hope Ishall see him some day."
"And he liked you too, young woman; and, what was more, young woman,I thought at one time that, perhaps, you were going to like him inearnest."
"Not in that way, certainly."
"You've done much better, of course; especially as poor Jeffrey'schance of promotion doesn't look so good now. If I have a boy, Iwonder whether he'll hate me?"
"Why should he hate you?"
"I can't help it, you know, if he does. Only think what it is toPlantagenet. Have you seen the difference it makes in him already?"
"Of course it makes a difference;--the greatest difference in theworld."
"And think what it will be to me, Alice. I used to lie in bed andwish myself dead, and make up my mind to drown myself,--if I couldonly dare. I shan't think any more of that poor fellow now." Then shetold Alice what had been done for Burgo; how his uncle had paid hisbills once again, and had agreed to give him a small income. "Poorfellow!" said Lady Glencora, "it won't do more than buy him gloves,you know."
The marriage was magnificent, greatly to the dismay of Alice andto the discomfort of Mr. Vavasor, who came down on the eve of theceremony,--arriving while his daughter and Lady Glencora were inthe ruins. Mr. Grey seemed to take it all very easily, and, as LadyGlencora said, played his part exactly as though he were in the habitof being married, at any rate, once a year. "Nothing on earth willever put him out, so you need not try, my dear," she said, as Alicestood with her a moment alone in the dressing-room up-stairs beforeher departure.
"I know that," said Alice, "and therefore I shall never try."
xxxxxxxxxx
CHAPTER LXXX.
The Story Is Finished Within the Halls of the Duke of Omnium.
Mr. Grey and wife were duly carried away from Matching Priory by posthorses, and did their honeymoon, we may be quite sure, with muchsatisfaction. When Alice was first asked where she would go, shesimply suggested that it should not be to Switzerland. They did, intruth, go by slow stages to Italy, to Venice, Florence, and on toRome; but such had not been their intention when they first startedon their journey. At that time Mr. Grey believed that he would bewanted again in England, down at Silverbridge in Barsetshire, veryshortly. But before he had married a week he learned that all thatwas to be postponed. The cup of fruition had not yet reached Mr.Palliser's lips. "There will be no vacancy either in the county or inthe borough till Parliament meets." That had been the message sentby Mr. Palliser to Mr. Grey. Lady Glencora's message to Alice had beenrather more full, having occupied three pages of note paper, thelast of which had been crossed, but I do not know that it was moreexplicit. She had abused Lord Brock, had abused Mr. Finespun, and hadabused all public things and institutions, because the arrangementsas now proposed would be very comfortable to Alice, but would not,as she was pleased to think, be very comfortable to herself. "Youcan go to Rome and see everything and enjoy yourself, which I wasnot allowed to do; and all this noise and bother, and crowd ofelectioneering, will take place down in Barsetshire just when I am inthe middle of all my trouble." There were many very long letters camefrom Lady Glencora to Rome during the winter,--letters which Aliceenjoyed thoroughly, but which she could not but regard as being veryindiscreet. The Duke was at the Castle during the Christmas week, andthe descriptions of the Duke and of his solicitude as to his heirwere very comic. "He comes and bends over me on the sofa in the moststupendous way, as though a woman to be the mother of his heir mustbe a miracle in nature. He is quite awful when he says a word or two,and more awful in his silence. The devil prompted me the other day,and I said I hoped it would be a girl. There was a look came over hisface which nearly frightened me. If it should be, I believe he willturn me out of the house; but how can I help it? I wish you weregoing to have a baby at the same time. Then, if yours was a boy andmine a girl, we'd make a change." This was very indiscreet. LadyGlencora would write indiscreet letters like this, which Alice couldnot show to her husband. It was a thousand pities.
But December and January wore themselves away, and the time came inwhich the Greys were bound to return to England. The husband hadvery fully discussed with his wife that matter of his parliamentaryambition, and found in her a very ready listener. Having made uphis mind to do this thing, he was resolved to do it thoroughly, andwas becoming almost as full of politics, almost as much devoted tosugar, as Mr. Palliser himself. He
at any rate could not complain thathis wife would not interest herself in his pursuits. Then, as theyreturned, came letters from Lady Glencora, written as her troublesgrew nigh. The Duke had gone, of course; but he was to be there atthe appointed time. "Oh, I do so wish he would have a fit of the goutin London,--or at Timbuctoo," said Lady Glencora. When they reachedLondon they first heard the news from Mr. Vavasor, who on thisoccasion condescended to meet them at the railway. "The Duke has gotan heir," he said, before the carriage-door was open;--"born thismorning!" One might have supposed that it was the Duke's baby, andnot the baby of Lady Glencora and Mr. Palliser. There was a note fromMr. Palliser to Mr. Grey. "Thank God!" said the note, "Lady Glencoraand the boy"--Mr. Palliser had scorned to use the word child--"LadyGlencora and the boy are quite as well as can be expected. Both thenew writs were moved for last night." Mr. Palliser's honours, as willbe seen, came rushing upon him all at once.
Wondrous little baby,--_purpureo genitus!_ What have the gods notdone for thee, if thou canst only manage to live till thy good thingsare all thine own,--to live through all the terrible solicitude withwhich they will envelope thee! Better than royal rank will be thine,with influence more than royal, and power of action fettered by noroyalty. Royal wealth which will be really thine own, to do with itas it beseemeth thee. Thou wilt be at the top of an aristocracy in acountry where aristocrats need gird themselves with no buckram. Allthat the world can give will be thine; and yet when we talk of theereligiously, philosophically, or politico-economically, we are wontto declare that thy chances of happiness are no better,--no better,if they be no worse,--than are those of thine infant neighbour justborn, in that farmyard cradle. Who shall say that they are better orthat they are worse? Or if they be better, or if they be worse, howshall we reconcile to ourselves that seeming injustice?
And now we will pay a little visit to the small one born in thepurple, and the story of that visit shall be the end of our history.It was early in April, quite early in April, and Mr. and Mrs. Grey wereboth at Gatherum Castle. Mrs. Grey was there at the moment of whichwe write, but Mr. Grey was absent at Silverbridge with Mr. Palliser.This was the day of the Silverbridge election, and Mr. Grey had goneto that ancient borough, to offer himself as a candidate to theelectors, backed by the presence and aid of a very powerful member ofthe Cabinet. Lady Glencora and Alice were sitting up-stairs with thesmall, purple-born one in their presence, and the small, purple-bornone was lying in Alice's lap.
"It is such a comfort that it is over," said the mother.
"You are the most ungrateful of women."
"Oh, Alice,--if you could have known! Your baby may come just as itpleases. You won't lie awake trembling how on earth you will bearyour disgrace if one of the vile weaker sex should come to disturbthe hopes of your lords and masters;--for I had two, which made it somuch more terrible."
"I'm sure Mr. Palliser would not have said a word."
"No, he would have said nothing,--nor would the Duke. The Duke wouldsimply have gone away instantly, and never have seen me again tillthe next chance comes,--if it ever does come. And Mr. Palliser wouldhave been as gentle as a dove;--much more gentle than he is now, formen are rarely gentle in their triumph. But I should have known whatthey both thought and felt."
"It's all right now, dear."
"Yes, my bonny boy,--you have made it all right for me;--have younot?" And Lady Glencora took her baby into her own arms. "You havemade everything right, my little man. But oh, Alice, if you had seenthe Duke's long face through those three days; if you had heard thetones of the people's voices as they whispered about me; if youhad encountered the oppressive cheerfulness of those two Londondoctors,--doctors are such bad actors,--you would have thought itimpossible for any woman to live throughout. There's one comfort;--ifmy mannikin lives, I can't have another eldest. He looks likeliving;--don't he, Alice?" Then were perpetrated various mysteriousceremonies of feminine idolatry which were continued till there camea grandly dressed old lady, who called herself the nurse, and whotook the idol away.
"Yes, my bonny boy,--you have made itall right for me."]
In the course of that afternoon Lady Glencora took Alice all overthe house. It was a castle of enormous size, quite new,--having beenbuilt by the present proprietor,--very cold, very handsome, and verydull. "What an immense place!" said Alice, as she stood looking roundher in the grand hall, which was never used as an entrance except onvery grand occasions. "Is it not? And it cost--oh, I can't tell youhow much it cost. A hundred thousand pounds or more. Well;--thatwould be nothing, as the Duke no doubt had the money in his pocketto do what he liked with at the time. But the joke is, nobody everthinks of living here. Who'd live in such a great, overgrown placesuch as this, if they could get a comfortable house like Matching? Doyou remember Longroyston and the hot-water pipes? I always think ofthe poor Duchess when I come through here. Nobody ever lives here, orever will. The Duke comes for one week in the year, and Plantagenetsays he hates to do that. As for me, nothing on earth shall ever makeme live here. I was completely in their power and couldn't help theirbringing me here the other day;--because I had, as it were, disgracedmyself."
"How disgraced yourself?"
"In being so long, you know, before that gentleman was born. But theyshan't play me the same trick again. I shall dare to assert myself,now. Come,--we must go away. There are some of the British publiccome to see one of the British sights. That's another pleasure here.One has to run about to avoid being caught by the visitors. Thehousekeeper tells me they always grumble because they are not allowedto go into my little room up-stairs."
On the evening of that day Mr. Palliser and Mr. Grey returned home fromSilverbridge together. The latter was then a Member of Parliament,but the former at that moment was the possessor of no such dignity.The election for the borough was now over, whereas that for thecounty had not yet taken place. But there was no rival candidate forthe position, and Mr. Palliser was thoroughly contented with his fate.He was at this moment actually Chancellor of the Exchequer, and inabout ten days' time would be on his legs in the House proposing forhis country's use his scheme of finance. The two men were seatedtogether in an open carriage, and were being whirled along by fourhorses. They were both no doubt happy in their ambition, but I thinkthat of the two, Mr. Palliser showed his triumph the most. Not that hespoke even to his friend a word that was triumphant in its tone. Itwas not thus that he rejoiced. He was by nature too placid for that.But there was a nervousness in his contentment which told the tale toany observer who might know how to read it.
"I hope you'll like it," he said to Grey.
"I shall never like it as you do," Grey answered.
"And why not;--why not?"
"In the first place, I have not begun it so young."
"Any time before thirty-five is young enough."
"For useful work, yes,--but hardly for enjoyment in the thing. Andthen I don't believe it all as you do. To you the British House ofCommons is everything."
"Yes;--everything," said Mr. Palliser with unwontedenthusiasm;--"everything, everything. That and the Constitution areeverything."
"It is not so to me."
"Ah, but it will be. If you really take to the work, and put yourselfinto harness, it will be so. You'll get to feel it as I do. The manwho is counted by his colleagues as number one on the Treasury Benchin the English House of Commons, is the first of living men. That'smy opinion. I don't know that I ever said it before; but that's myopinion."
"And who is the second;--the purse-bearer to this great man?"
"I say nothing about the second. I don't know that there is anysecond. I wonder how we shall find Lady Glencora and the boy." Theyhad then arrived at the side entrance to the Castle, and Mr. Grey ranup-stairs to his wife's room to receive her congratulations.
"And you are a Member of Parliament?" she asked.
"They tell me so, but I don't know whether I actually am one tillI've taken the oaths."
"I am so happy. There's no position in the world so
glorious!"
"It's a pity you are not Mr. Palliser's wife. That's just what he hasbeen saying."
"Oh, John, I am so happy. It is so much more than I have deserved. Ihope,--that is, I sometimes think--"
"Think what, dearest?"
"I hope nothing that I have ever said has driven you to it."
"I'd do more than that, dear, to make you happy," he said, as he puthis arm round her and kissed her; "more than that, at least if itwere in my power."
Probably my readers may agree with Alice, that in the finaladjustment of her affairs she had received more than she haddeserved. All her friends, except her husband, thought so. But asthey have all forgiven her, including even Lady Midlothian herself, Ihope that they who have followed her story to its close will not beless generous.
Can You Forgive Her? Page 81
