The ministers were strong, but still they could not afford to lose supporters hitherto zealous--the example of desertion is contagious. In the town which Templeton had formerly represented, and which he now almost commanded, a vacancy suddenly ocurred--a candidate started on the opposition side and commenced a canvass; to the astonishment and panic of the Secretary of the Treasury, Templeton put forward no one, and his interest remained dormant. Lord Saxingham hurried to Lumley.
"My dear fellow, what is this?--what can your uncle be about? We shall lose this place--one of our strongholds. Bets run even."
"Why, you see, you have all behaved very ill to my uncle--I am really sorry for it, but I can do nothing."
"What, this confounded peerage! Will that content him, and nothing short of it?"
"Nothing."
"He must have it, by Jove!"
"And even that may come too late."
"Ha! do you think so?"
"Will you leave the matter to me?"
"Certainly--you are a monstrous clever fellow, and we all esteem you."
"Sit down and write as I dictate, my dear lord."
"Well," said Lord Saxingham, seating himself at Lumley's enormous writing-table--"well, go on."
"/My dear Mr. Templeton/--"
"Too familiar," said Lord Saxingham.
"Not a bit; go on."
"/My dear Mr. Templeton:/--
"/We are anxious to secure your parliamentary influence in C------ to the proper quarter, namely, to your own family, as the best defenders of the administration, which you honour by your support. We wish signally, at the same time, to express our confidence in your principles, and our gratitude for your countenance./"
"D-----d sour countenance!" muttered Lord Saxingham.
"/Accordingly,/" continued Ferrers, "/as one whose connection with you permits the liberty, allow me to request that you will suffer our joint relation, Mr. Ferrers, to be put into immediate nomination./"
Lord Saxingham threw down the pen and laughed for two minutes without ceasing. "Capital, Lumley, capital--Very odd I did not think of it before."
"Each man for himself, and God for us all," returned Lumley, gravely: "pray go on, my dear lord."
"/We are sure you could not have a representative that would, more faithfully reflect your own opinions and our interests. One word more. A creation of peers will probably take place in the spring, among which I am sure your name would be to his Majesty a gratifying addition; the title will of course be secured to your sons--and failing the latter, to your nephew./
"/With great regard and respect,
"Truly yours,
"SAXINGHAM./"
"There, inscribe that 'Private and confidential,' and send it express to my uncle's villa."
"It shall be done, my dear Lumley--and this contents me as much as it does you. You are really a man to do us credit. You think it will be arranged?"
"No doubt of it."
"Well, good day. Lumley, come to me when it is all settled: Florence is always glad to see yon; she says no one amuses her more. And I am sure that is rare praise, for she is a strange girl,--quite a Timon in petticoats."
Away went Lord Saxingham.
"Florence glad to see me!" said Lumley, throwing his arms behind him, and striding to and fro the room--"Scheme the Second begins to smile upon me behind the advancing shadow of Scheme One. If I can but succeed in keeping away other suitors from my fair cousin until I am in a condition to propose myself, why, I may carry off the greatest match in the three kingdoms. /Courage, mon brave Ferrers, courage!/"
It was late that evening when Ferrers arrived at his uncle's villa. He found Mrs. Templeton in the drawing-room seated at the piano. He entered gently; she did not hear him, and continued at the instrument. Her voice was so sweet and rich, her taste so pure, that Ferrers, who was a good judge of music, stood in delighted surprise. Often as he had now been a visitor, even an inmate, at the house, he had never before heard Mrs. Templeton play any but sacred airs, and this was one of the popular songs of sentiment. He perceived that her feeling at last overpowered her voice, and she paused abruptly, and turning round, her face was so eloquent of emotion, that Ferrers was forcibly struck by its expression. He was not a man apt to feel curiosity for anything not immediately concerning himself; but he did feel curious about this melancholy and beautiful woman. There was in her usual aspect that inexpressible look of profound resignation which betokens a lasting remembrance of a bitter past: a prematurely blighted heart spoke in her eyes, in her smile, her languid and joyless step. But she performed the routine of her quiet duties with a calm and conscientious regularity which showed that grief rather depressed than disturbed her thoughts. If her burden were heavy, custom seemed to have reconciled her to bear it without repining; and the emotion which Ferrers now traced in her soft and harmonious features was of a nature he had only once witnessed before--viz., on the first night he had seen her, when poetry, which is the key of memory, had evidently opened a chamber haunted by mournful and troubled ghosts.