Part 101 (2/2)

”Not quite so quickly,” said Mr. Gresham.

”But with the same a.s.surance of speedy loss of my little light.”

It did not suit Mr. Gresham to understand this, so he changed the subject. ”Have you seen the news from America?”

”Yes, I have seen it, but do not believe it,” said Phineas.

”Ah, you have such faith in a combination of British colonies, properly backed in Downing Street, as to think them strong against a world in arms. In your place I should hold to the same doctrine,--hold to it stoutly.”

”And you do now, I hope, Mr. Gresham?”

”Well,--yes,--I am not down-hearted. But I confess to a feeling that the world would go on even though we had nothing to say to a single province in North America. But that is for your private ear. You are not to whisper that in Downing Street.” Then there came up somebody else, and Phineas went on upon his slow course. He had longed for an opportunity to tell Mr. Gresham that he could go to Downing Street no more, but such opportunity had not reached him.

For a long time he found himself stuck close by the side of Miss Fitzgibbon,--Miss Aspasia Fitzgibbon,--who had once relieved him from terrible pecuniary anxiety by paying for him a sum of money which was due by him on her brother's account. ”It's a very nice thing to be here, but one does get tired of it,” said Miss Fitzgibbon.

”Very tired,” said Phineas.

”Of course it is a part of your duty, Mr. Finn. You are on your promotion and are bound to be here. When I asked Laurence to come, he said there was nothing to be got till the cards were shuffled again.”

”They'll be shuffled very soon,” said Phineas.

”Whatever colour comes up, you'll hold trumps, I know,” said the lady. ”Some hands always hold trumps.” He could not explain to Miss Fitzgibbon that it would never again be his fate to hold a single trump in his hand; so he made another fight, and got on a few steps farther.

He said a word as he went to half a dozen friends,--as friends went with him. He was detained for five minutes by Lady Baldock, who was very gracious and very disagreeable. She told him that Violet was in the room, but where she did not know. ”She is somewhere with Lady Laura, I believe; and really, Mr. Finn, I do not like it.” Lady Baldock had heard that Phineas had quarrelled with Lord Brentford, but had not heard of the reconciliation. ”Really, I do not like it. I am told that Mr. Kennedy is in the house, and n.o.body knows what may happen.”

”Mr. Kennedy is not likely to say anything.”

”One cannot tell. And when I hear that a woman is separated from her husband, I always think that she must have been imprudent. It may be uncharitable, but I think it is most safe so to consider.”

”As far as I have heard the circ.u.mstances, Lady Laura was quite right,” said Phineas.

”It may be so. Gentlemen will always take the lady's part,--of course. But I should be very sorry to have a daughter separated from her husband,--very sorry.”

Phineas, who had nothing now to gain from Lady Baldock's favour, left her abruptly, and went on again. He had a great desire to see Lady Laura and Violet together, though he could hardly tell himself why.

He had not seen Miss Effingham since his return from Ireland, and he thought that if he met her alone he could hardly have talked to her with comfort; but he knew that if he met her with Lady Laura, she would greet him as a friend, and speak to him as though there were no cause for embarra.s.sment between them. But he was so far disappointed, that he suddenly encountered Violet alone. She had been leaning on the arm of Lord Baldock, and Phineas saw her cousin leave her. But he would not be such a coward as to avoid her, especially as he knew that she had seen him. ”Oh, Mr. Finn!” she said, ”do you see that?”

”See what?”

”Look; There is Mr. Kennedy. We had heard that it was possible, and Laura made me promise that I would not leave her.” Phineas turned his head, and saw Mr. Kennedy standing with his back bolt upright against a door-post, with his brow as black as thunder. ”She is just opposite to him, where he can see her,” said Violet. ”Pray take me to her. He will think nothing of you, because I know that you are still friends with both of them. I came away because Lord Baldock wanted to introduce me to Lady Mouser. You know he is going to marry Miss Mouser.”

Phineas, not caring much about Lord Baldock and Miss Mouser, took Violet's hand upon his arm, and very slowly made his way across the room to the spot indicated. There they found Lady Laura alone, sitting under the upas-tree influence of her husband's gaze. There was a concourse of people between them, and Mr. Kennedy did not seem inclined to make any attempt to lessen the distance. But Lady Laura had found it impossible to move while she was under her husband's eyes.

”Mr. Finn,” she said, ”could you find Oswald? I know he is here.”

”He has gone,” said Phineas. ”I was speaking to him downstairs.”

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