82 ALL THINGS ARE NAMES. much there is a steadiness, a sobriety about you most praiseworthy, and you shall go into parliament if you wish it, but not for *****. I will give my interest there to some other friend of the government, and, in return, they can give you a treasury borough! That is the same thing to you." Lumley was agreeably surprised-he pressed his uncle's hand warmly, and thanked him cordially. Mr. Templeton proceeded to explain to him that it was inconvenient and expensive sitting for places where one's family was known, and Lumley fully subscribed to all. "As for the settlement of the peerage, that is all right," said Templeton; and then he sunk into a revery, from which he broke joyously—"yes, that is all right. I have projects, objects-this may unite them all-nothing can be better-you will be the next lord-what-I say, what title shall we have?" "Oh, take a sounding one-you have very little landed property, I think ?" "Two thousand a year in gain." -shire, bought a bar "What's the name of the place?" "Grubley." "Lord Grubley!-Baron Grubley of Grubley-oh, atrocious! who had the place before you?" "Bought it of Mr. Sheepshanks-very old family." "But surely some old Norman once had the place?" "Norman, yes! Henry the Second gave it to his barber-Bertram Courval." "That's it-that's it-Lord de Courval-singular coincidence!-descent from the old line. Herald's college soon settle all that. Lord de Courval!-nothing can sound better. There must be a village or hamlet still called Courval about the property." "I'm afraid not. There is Coddle End." "Coddle End!-Coddle End!-the very thing, sirthe very thing-clear corruption from Courval!-Lord de Courval of Courval! Superb! Ha! ha!" "Ha! ha!" laughed Templeton, and he had hardly laughed before since he was thirty. The relations sat long and conversed familiarly. Ferrers slept at the villa, and his sleep was sound, for he thought little of plans once formed and half executed; it was the hunt that kept him awake, and he slept like a hound when the prey was down. Not so Templeton, LUMLEY MAKES THE MOST OF HIMSELF. 83 who did not close his eyes all night. "Yes, yes," thought he, "I must get the fortune and the title in one line by a prudent management. Ferrers deserves what I mean to do for him. Steady, good-natured, frank, and will get on-yes, yes, I see it all. Meanwhile I did well to prevent his standing for *****; might pick up gossip about Mrs. T., and other things that might be unpleasant. Ah, I'm a shrewd fellow!" CHAPTER III. "Lauzun.-There, marquis, there, I've done it. The Duchess de la VALLIERE. LUMLEY hastened to strike while the iron was hot. The next morning he went straight to the treasury; saw the managing secretary, a clever, sharp man, who, like Ferrers, carried off intrigue and manœuvre by a blunt, careless, bluff manner. Ferrers announced that he was to stand for the free, respectable, open city of ****, with an electoral population of 2500-a very showy place it was for a member in the old ante-reform times, and was considered a thoroughly independent borough. The secretary congratulated and complimented him. "We have had losses lately in our elections among the larger constituencies," said Lumley. "We have, indeed-three towns lost in the last six months. Members do die so very unseasonably!" "Is Lord Staunch yet provided for ?" asked Lumley. Now Lord Staunch was one of the popular show-fight great guns of the administration; not in office, but that most useful person to all governments, an out-and-out supporter upon the most independent principles; who was known to have refused place, and to value himself on independence; a man that helped the government over the stile when it was seized with a temporary lameness, and who carried "great weight with him in the country." Lord Staunch had foolishly thrown up a close borough in order to contest a large city, and : 84 LUMLEY MAKES THE MOST OF HIMSELF. had failed in the attempt. His failure was everywhere cited as a proof of the growing unpopularity of minis ters. "Is Lord Staunch yet provided for ?" asked Lumley. "Why, he must have his old seat, 'Three-Oaks.' Three Oaks is a nice, quiet little place-most respectable constituency-all Staunch's own family." "Just the thing for him, yet 'tis a pity that he did not wait to stand for ***** ; my uncle's interest would have secured him." 66 "Ay, I thought so the moment However, it is too late now." "It would be a great triumph if Lord Staunch could show that a large constituency volunteered to elect him without expense.' "Without expense! Ah, yes, indeed! It would prove that purity of election still exists-that British institutions are still upheld." "It might be done, Mr. 66 Why, I thought that you 99 "Were to stand-that is true-and it will be difficult to manage my uncle; but he loves me much—you know I am his heir-I believe I could do it—that is, if you think it would be a very great advantage to the party, and a very great service to the government. 66 Why, Mr. Ferrers, it would indeed be both.” "And in that case I could have Three Oaks." "I see exactly so-but to give up so respectable a seat-really it is a sacrifice." 66 Say no more, it shall be done. A deputation shall wait on Lord Staunch directly. I will see my uncle, and a despatch shall be sent down to ***** to-night, at least I hope so. I must not be too confident. My uncle is an odd man; nobody but myself can manage him; I'll go this instant." "You may be sure your kindness will be duly appreciated." Lumley shook hands cordially with the secretary, and retired. The secretary was not "humbugged," nor did Lumley expect he should be. But the secretary noted this of Lumley Ferrers (and that gentleman's object was gained), that Lumley Ferrers was a man who looked out for office, and, if he did tolerably well in parliament, that Lumley Ferrers was a man who ought to be pushed. LORD SAXINGHAM. 85 Very shortly afterward the Gazette announced the election of Lord Staunch for *****, after a sharp but decisive contest. The ministerial journals rang with exulting pæans; the opposition ones called the electors of ***** all manner of hard names, and declared that Mr. Stout, Lord Staunch's opponent, would petition, which he never did. In the midst of the hubbub, Mr. Lumley Ferrers quietly and unobservedly crept into the representation of Three Oaks. On the night of his election he went to Lord Saxingham's but what there happened deserves another chap ter. CHAPTER IV. "Je connois des princes du sang, des princes étrangers, des grands seigneurs, des ministres d'etat, des magistrats, et des philosophes qui fileroient pour l'amour de vous. En pouvez-vous demander d'avantage ?"-Lettres de MADAME DE SEVIGNE. "Lindore. I-I believe it will choke me. I'm in love. Now, hold your tongue. Hold your tongue, I say. "Dalner. You in love! Ha! ha! "Lind. There, he laughs. "Dal. No; I am really sorry for you."-German Play (False Delicacy). Gold!" "What is here? SHAKSPEARE. 66 IT happened that that evening Maltravers had, for the first time, accepted one of many invitations with which Lord Saxingham had honoured him. His lordship and Maltravers were of different political parties, nor were they in other respects adapted to each other. Lord Saxingham was a clever man in his way, but worldly, even to a proverb, among worldly people. That man was born to walk erect and look upon the stars," is an eloquent fallacy that Lord Saxingham might suffice to disprove. He seemed born to walk with a stoop; and if he ever looked upon any stars, they were those which go with a garter. Though of celebrated and historical ancestry, great rank, and some personal reputation, he had all the ambition of a parvénu. He had a VOL. II.-H 86 ERNEST AND LADY FLORENCE. strong regard for office, not so much from the sublime affection for that sublime thing, power over the destinies of a glorious nation, as because it added to that vulgar thing, importance in his own set. He looked on his cabinet uniform as a beadle looks on his gold-lace. He also liked patronage, secured good things to distant connexions, got on his family to the remotest degree of relationship; in short, he was of the earth, earthy. He did not comprehend Maltravers, and Maltravers, who every day grew prouder and prouder, despised him. Still Lord Saxingham was told that Maltravers was a rising man, and he thought it well to be civil to rising men of whatever party; besides, his vanity was flattered by having men who are talked of in his train. He was too busy and too great a personage to think Maltravers could be other than sincere when he declared himself, in his notes, "very sorry," or " much concerned," to forego the honour of dining with Lord Saxingham on the, &c., &c.; and therefore continued his invitations, till Maltravers, from that fatality which undoubtedly regulates and controls us, at last accepted the proffered distinction. He arrived late-most of the guests were assembled; and, after exchanging a few words with his host, Ernest fell back into the general groupe, and found himself in the immediate neighbourhood of Lady Florence Lascelles. This lady had never much pleased Maltravers, for he was not fond of masculine or coquettish heroines, and Lady Florence seemed to him to merit both epithets; therefore, though he had met her often since the first day he had been introduced to her, he had usually contented himself with a distant bow or a passing salutation. But now, as he turned round and saw her-she was, for a miracle, sitting alone-and in her most dazzling and noble countenance there was so evident an appearance of ill-health, that he was struck and touched by it. In fact, beautiful as she was, both in face and form, there was something in the eye and the bloom of Lady Florence which a skilful physician would have seen with prophetic pain. And, whenever occasional illness paled the roses of the cheek and sobered the play of the lips, even an ordinary observer would have thought of the old commonplace proverb"that the brightest beauty has the briefest life." was some sentiment of this kind, perhaps, that now It |