IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 I.I 12.8 m m Uf us, |2.0 11:25 i 1.4 lUil 1.6 PhotDgraphic Sciences Corporation k /. \ <^\ <^ « :3 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) 873-4S03 ^^^^1^/^ ^^^ ^f.^ '<^>^ ;\ 'V- 4^ r^ CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICIVIH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical l\/licroreproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographically unique, wliich may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checked below. D D D D D D D Coloured covers/ Couverture de couleur I I Covers damaged/ Couverture endommagie Covers restored and/or laminated/ Couverture restaurie et/ou pelliculAe I I Cover title missing/ Le titre de couverture manque I I Coloured maps/ Cartes giographiques en couleur Coloured inic (i.e. other than blue or black)/ Encre de couleur (i.e. autre que bleue ou noire) I I Coloured plates and/or illustrations/ Planches et/ou illustrations en couleur Bound with other material/ Reli6 avec d'autres documents Tight binding may cause shadows or distortion along interior margin/ La re liure serrde peut causer de I'ombre ou de la distortion le long de la marge intirieure Blank leaves added during restoration may appear within the text. Whenever possible, these have been omitted from filming/ II se peut que certaines pages blanches ajouties lors d'une restauration apparaissent dans le texte, mais, lorsque cela 6tait possible, ces pages n'ont pas 6x6 fiim^es. Additional comments:/ Commentaires suppldmentaires; L'Institut a microfilm^ le meilleur exemplaire qu'il lui a 6t6 possible de se procurer. Les details de cet exemplaire qui sont peut-Atre uniques du point de vue bibliographique, qui peuvent modifier une image reproduite, ou qui peuvent exiger une modification dans la mithode normale de filmage sont indiquis ci-dessous. I I Coloured pages/ Pages de couleur Pages damaged/ Pages endommag^es □ Pages restored and/or laminated/ Pages restauries et/ou peliicuiies rri^Pages discoloured, stained or foxed/ L-ZJ Pages dicolories, tacheties ou piqu6es D 1/ n □ Pages detached/ Pages ddtachdes Showthrough/ Transparence Quality of print varies/ Qualiti indgaie de I'impression Includes supplementary material/ Comprend du materiel suppi^mentaire Only edition available/ Seuie Edition disponibie Pages wholly or partially obscured by errata slips, tissues, etc., have been refilmed to ensure the best possible image/ Les pages totalement ou partiellement obscurcies par un feuillet d'errata, une pelure, etc., ont 6t6 fiimdes A nouveau de fapon d obtenir la meilleure image possible. The c( to the The in possib of the filmin( Origin begini the lai sion, ( other first p< sion, or illui The \a shall c TINUE which( Maps, differe entirel beginn right a require metho This item is filmed at the reduction ratio checked below/ Ce document est film6 au taux de reduction indiqui ci-dessous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X ^ H 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X tiaire 8 details quas du It modifier (iger una la filmaga Tha copy fiimad hara has baan raproducad thanks to tha ganarosity off: National Library of Canada The images appearing hare are the best quality possible considering the condition and legibility off the original copy and in keeping with the ffilming contract spaciffications. L'axemplaire filmt fut reproduit grAce A la ginArositt de: Bibliothdque nationala du Canada Las images suivantes ont 4t6 reproduites avac la plus grand soin. compta tenu de la condition at de la nettetA de I'exempiaire film6, et en conformity avac las conditions du contrat da filmaga. i/ luies Original copies in printed paper covers are filmed beginning with the front cover and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, or the back cover when appropriate. All other original copies are ffilmad beginning on the ffirst page with a printed or illustrated impres- sion, and ending on the last page with a printed or illustrated impression. The last recorded fframe on each microffiche shall contain the symbol ^^> (meaning "CON- TINUED"), or the symbol V (meaning "END"), whichever applies. Les exemplaires originaux dont la couverture en papier est ImprimAe sont ffilmte en commen^ant par la premier plat et en terminant soit par la dernlAre page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration, soit par le second plat, salon le cas. Tous les autres exemplaires originaux sont ffilmte en commenpant par la premiere page qui comporte une empreinte d'impression ou d'illustration et en terminant par la darnlAre page qui comporte une telle empreinte. Un des symboles suivants apparaltra sur la dernidre image de cheque microffiche. selon le cas: le symbols — ► cigniffie "A SUIVRE", le symbole V signiffie "FIN". lire Maps, plates, cherts, etc., may be ffilmed at diffferent reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper lefft hand corner, lefft to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent Atre ffilmis A des taux de reduction diffffArents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour fttre reproduit en un seul clichA, il est film6 A partir de I'angle supArieur gauche, de gauche A droite, et de haut en bas, en prenant le nombre d'images nAcesoaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrant la mAthoda. by errata led to snt jne pelure, apon d 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 % • V 3 THE PRIME MINISTER, ru^'a,' \U^ ./^ N 1%^ / ^t \VL TH' THE PRIME MINISTER. BT ANTHONY TROIXOPK TORONTO : BELFORD BROTHERS. 1876. Entered according to the Act of the Parliament of Canada, in the year one thoiwand eight hundred and seventy-eu, by Bm-FOBD Bbothbbb, in the office of the Minister of Agricultunt \ fi CONTENTS. in the year oue 10THBB8, in the OBAPTER J. Ferdinand Lopez , , ^ ^ II. Ev BRETT Wharton . . » . III. Mr. Abel Wharton, q.c. IV. Mus. ROBY V. "No ONE KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT HIM." V . An old friend goes to Windsor . VII. Another old friend VIII. The beginning of a nbw career . IX. Mrs. Dick's dinner par-^y. — No. i. X. Mrs. Dick's dinner party. — No. ii. XI. Carlton Terrace XII. ^IHB gathering of CLOUDS XIII. Mr. Wharton complains . XIV. A lover's fersbyerancb . XV. Arthur Fletcher . XVI. Never hiun away ! . XVII. QOO-J-BYB .... .XVIII. TrE Dukb of Omnium thinks XIX. Vulgarity .... XX. Sir Orlando's policy XXI. The Duchess's new swan XXII. St. James's Park XXIII. SuftRENDEB XXIV. The Marriagb . XXV. The beginning of the honeymoon XXVI. The und of the honeymoon OF himself pAav 1 7 14 22 26 32 39 45 62 59 66 75 SO 89 95 101 109 113 121 127 135 140 151 158 163 170 ^I IU)NIKNT8, (IIAITKH I'AUB CIIAI' XXVII. TmR DrKK'8 MIHEUY . 176 LX XXVIII. ThR D1CHE88 IH MICH THOl'Hl.BI) . . . 18G LXX XXIX. Tick two cANmnAiBs for Silvkkhhidor . . 190 LXXI XXX. " Yes ;— a lie ! " . 197 LXX XXXI. "Yes; with a hohskwhip tN my jiand." . . 204 LXX XXXII. "What hvsinebs is it ok yoiiihI'*' . . 210 LXX XXXIII. Showing that a man RHotLD not howl . . 217 LXXV IJ XXXIV. The Sii.vkuhhjdoe elkction . . . ■ . 22'2 LXX VI !' XXXV. Lopez hack in London .... . 23:^ LXXI XXXVL The Jolly ULAcxniui) . 241 LXX xxxvn. The IIouns . 240 XXXVIII. Siu Orlando ubtihes . 251 XXXIX. "Get hound him." . 261 XL. , 1 "Comb and tuy it." . 26G XLI. The vali'e ov a thick skin . 272 XLII. Kktkiuution . 277 1 XLIII. Kauui Gum . 289 \ XLIV. Mr. Wharton intends to make a nbw will . . 295 li XLV. Mrs. Sexty Paukfr . . . • . . 301 11 ^^^^' "Hb wants to get uich too quick." . 307 m xLvii. As FOR love! . 314 1 XLVIII. "IIas KB ill-treated youP" . 323 '" XLIX. Wherb 18 Guatemala? .... . 328 i ^ ^^: Mr. Slidb's revenoe . 334 Coddling the Prime RIinister . . 342 LI I. "I CAN sleep here TO-NIOHT, I SUPPOSE." . 360 ' LTII. Mr. Hartlepod . 367 ■ LIV. Li/zib . 364 * 1 LV. Mrs. Parker's borrows .... . 372 1 f LVI. What thb Duchess thought of hbr itusband . 377 ; H ' Lvn. ThB BXPL.iNATION . 384 B LVIII. " QCITB 8BTTLBD." . . . • . 391 j H j LIX. 1- LX. Thb first and the Liisr .... . 398 1 H The Tenway Junction .... . 403 ■ ■ LXI. Thb widow and her friends . 410 1 9 ^ LXII. Phineas Finn has a book to rbad . . 417- > H LXIII. Thb Duchess and hbr fribnd ... . 424 ■ Lxrv. Thic new k.o . 430 9 LXV. There must be time . 437 9 TiXVI. The end of thb session .... . 442 9 LXVIL Mrs. Lopez irbparbs to moth ... . 449 9 T-XVIIL The Prime Minister's political creed . . 455 9 LXIX. Mrs. Parkbr's fatb . 463 9 LXX. At Wharton ...... . 468 9 CONTKNTB. vii I'AltR ■ riiAiTM . 176 ■ LXXI. . 18G ■ LXXII. . 190 ■ LXXI II. . 107 ■ LXXIV. . 204 ■ LXXV. . 210 ■ LXXVl. . 217 ■ LXXVII. . 222 ■ lxxvih. . 23;j ■ LXXIX. . 241 ■ LXXX. . 24G I . 254 1 . 261 1 . 26C I . 272 ■ . 277 I . 289 1 riLL . 295 H . 301 ■ . 307 a . 314 9 . 323 i ■ . 328 I . 334 I . 342 H . 350 1 . 357 ■ . 364 i I . 372 1 I ^ND • 377 I B . 384 I . 391 ■ . 308 ■ . 403 I . 410 I . 417* ■ . 424 I . 430 ■ . 437 I . 442 ■ . 449 I . 455 I . 463 I . 468 1 ■ ThB LADIIR at LoNOHARNfl DOVIIT " Hb thinks that OUIl DAYS ARE Nl'MHBHEl). Only thb Dukb op Omnium "I AM DISOHACIU AND SHAMKd" . The orbat Wharton alliance . Who will it be? Tub Duchess in Manchehtkr Suiahb Thb new Ministry .... Thb Whakton weddino The last meeting at Matching • MOB 476 481 492 6U0 609 616 622 627 634 642 th: It is certaii Ifathurs aud jbitiou tome to be able t somebodies i I for those wb Iwoiia; and 1 become lior ■theoretically Imade magn IforenHic ov t [bpriug of tl Bubjectof L i^heii old, a ibsolutely r< ictaally woi jnffection, of >'i, with the be altogethe: be ushamed, ^luy rate to uot less if : riusic me lo high socia lining with bring into il f et it is so di anyof ug be generally Jvon our bn V n Tnnn ne^ THE PRIME MINISTER CHAPTER I. FERDINAND LOPEZ. It is certainly of service to a man to know who were his gi'aud- fathers and who were his gi aiidmothers if he eutertuia au am- bition to move in the upper circlus of society, and altto of service to be able to speak of tnem as of persons who were themselves Homebodies in their timo. No doubt we all entertain gn^at respect for those who by their own energies have raised themselves in the iworld; and when we hear that the son of a washerwoman has I become Tiord Chancellor or Arohbinhop of Canterbury wo do, Itheoretically and abstractedly, feel a higher reverence for such self- Imade magnate than for one who has been as it were born into IforenKic uv ecclesiastical purple. But not the less must the off- jbpriug of the washerwoman have had very much trouble on the subject of his birth, unless he has been, when young as well as fhen old, a very great man indeed. After the goal has been ibyulutely reached, and the honour and the titles and the wealth ictually won, a man may talk with some humour, even with some |iiirection, of the maternal tub ; — but while the struggle is going I, with the conviction strong upon the struggler that he cannot 36 altogether successful unless he be esteemed a gei;tleman, not to )e ashamed, not to conceal the old family circumstances, not at luy rate to be silent, is difficult. And the dilliculty is certainly kiot less if fortunate circumstances rather than hard work and Intriusic merit have raised above his natural place an aspirant |to high social position. Can it be expected that such a one when lining with a duchess shall speak of his father's small shop, or )ring into the light of day his grandfather's cobbler's awl ? And ret it is so difHcuit to be altogether silent ! It may not bo necessary [or any of us to be always talking of our own parentage. We may l>e generally reticent as to our uncles and au^cs, and may drop bvon our brothers and sisters in our ordina-^ conversation. But If fl TTinn never mentions his belongings c man there was a something of softness, perhaps in the play of the lips^ perhaps in the dimple, which in some degree lessened the feeling joi hardness which was produced by the square brow and bold, lunfiinching, combative eyes. They who knew him and liked him Iwero reconciled by the lower faco. The greater number who knew Ihim and did not like him felt and resented, — even though in nine icasea out of ten they might express no resentment even to them - jselvos, — the pugnacity of his steady glance. I For he was essentially one of those men who are always, in the jmnei' workings of their mindt<, defending themselves and attacking lothers. He could not give a penny to a woman at a crossing with- [out a look which argued at full length her injustice in making her jdeniiind, and his froedoni from aU liability lot him walk the cross- ii'g as often as he nvght. llo couKl not seat himself in a railway THE PRIME MINISTER. m r carriage without a lesson to his opposite neighbour that in all the mutual affairs of travelling, arrangement of foet, dispubitiou of bags, and opening of windows, it would be that neighbour's duly to submit and his to exact. It was, however, for tlie spiht rather than for the thing itself that he combated. The woman with the broom got her penny. The opposite gentleman when once by a glance he had expressed submission was allowed his own wajr with hifi legs and witn the window. I would not say that Ferdinand Lopez was prone to do ill-natured things; but he was imperious, and he had learned to carry his empire in his eye. The reader must submit to be told one or two further and still smaller details respecting the roan, and then the man shall be allowed to make his own way. No one of those around him knew }tow much care he took to dress himself well, or how careful he was that no one should know it. His very tailor regarded him as being simply extravagant in the number of his coats and trousers, ind his friends looked upon him as one of those fortunate beings to whose nature belongs a facility of being well dressed, or almost an impossibility of being ill dressed. We all know the man, — a little man generally who moves seldom and softly, — who looks always as though he had just been sent home in a bandbox. Fer- dinand Lopez was not a little man, and moved freely enough ; but never, at arty moment, — going into the city or coming out of it, on horseback or on foot, at home over his book or after the mazes of the dance, — was he dressed otherwise than with perfect care. Money and time did it, but folk thought that it grew with him, as did his hair and his nails. And he always rode a horse which charmed good judges of what a park nag should be ; — not a pranc- ing, restless, giggling, side- way- going, useless garran, but an animal well made, well bitted, with perfect paces, on whom a rider if it pleased him could be as quiet as a statue on a monument. It often did please Ferdinand Lupoz to be quiet on horseback ; and yet he did not look like a statue, for it was acknowledged through all Loudon that he was a good horseman. lie lived luxuriously too, — though whether at his ease or not nobody knew, — for he kept a brougham of his own, and during the hunting season he had two horses down at Leighton. There had once been a belief abroad that he was ruined, but they who interest themselves in such matters had found out, — or at any rate believod that they had f()UT>d out, — that he paid his tailor regularly : and now there pre- vailed au opinion that Ferdinand Lopez was a moiiied man. It was known to some few that he occupied rooms in a flat at Westminster, — but to veiy few exactly where the rooms were situate. Among all his friends no one was known to have entered them. In a moderate way he was given to hospitality, — that is to infrequent but, when the occasion came, to graceful hoispitulity. Sonie club, however, or tavern, or perhaps, in the summer, some river bank would be chopen as the sceiie of these festivities. 'Vo a few, — if, as suggesled, amidst suumn'r flowers on the wu,ter'd e»J{i,o FERDINAND LOPEZ. to men and women mixed, — he would bo a courtly and efficient host ; for he had the rare gift of doing such things wfJl. Hunting was over, and the east wind was still blowing, and a great portion of the London world was out of town taking its Easter holiday, when, on an unpleasant morning, Feidinand Lopez travellod into the city by the Metropolitan railway from Westmin- ster Bridge. It was his custom to go thither when he did go, — not daily like a man of business, but as chance might require, like a capitalist or a man of pleasure^ — in his own brougham. But on this occasion he walked down to the river side, and then walked from the Mansion House into a dingy little court called Little Tankard Yard, near the Dank of England, and going through a narrow dark long passage got into a little olHce at the hack of a building, in which there sat at a desk a greasy gentleman with a new hat on one side of his head, who might perhaps be about forty years old. The place was very dark, and the man was turning over the leaves of a ledger. A stranger to city ways might pro- bably have said that he was idle, but he was no doubt filling his mind with that erudition which would enable him to earn his broad. On the other side of the dor^k there was a little boy copying letters. These were Mr. Sextus PHiker, — commonly called Sexty Parker. — and his clerk. Mr. Parker was a gentleman very well known and at the present moment favourably esteemed on the Stock Exchange. *' What, Lopez!" said he. " Uncommon glad to see you. What can I do for you ?" " Just come inside, — will you ?" said Lopez. Now within Mr. Parker's very small office there was a smaller office in which there were a safe, a small rickeiy Pembroke table, two chairs, and an old washing-stand with a tumbled towel. Lopez led the way into this sanctum as though he knew the place well, and Sexty Parker followed him. " Beastly day, isn't it ?" said Sexty. " Yes, — a nasty east wind." " Cutting one in two, with a hot sun at the samo time. One ought to hybernate at this time of the year." *' Then why don't you hybernate ?" said Lopoz. *' Business is too good. That's about it. A man has to stick to it when it does come. Everybody can't do liLe you ; — give up regular work, and make a better thing of an hour now and an hour then, iust as it pleases you. I shouldn't dare go in for that kind ofthiiig." *' I (lon't suppose you or any one else know what I go in for," said liopez, with a look that indicatod off'ence. " Nor don't care," said Sexty ; — " only hope it's something good [for your sake." Soxty Parker had known Mr. Lopez well, now I lor some years, and being an overbearing man himself, — somewhat [even of a bully if the truth be spoken, — and by no means apt to [give way unless hard pressed, had often tried his " hand" on his friend, as he himself would ha\o said. But I doubt whether he THK PRIME MINISTRH. cuuld remember Any instance in which he could conpatulalr him- self on fluccoss. lie was trying: his hand again now, bnt did it with a faltering voice, having caught a glance of his friend's rye. "I dare say not," said Lopez. Then he continued without changing his voice or the nature of the glance of his eyo, " I'll tell you what I want you to do now. I want your name to this bill for throe months." Sexty Parker opened his mouth and his eyes, and took the bit of paper that was tendered to him. It was a promisscny note for £7.>0, which, if signed by him, would at the end of the specified period mase him liable for that sum were it not otherwise paid. His friend Mr. Lopez was indeed applying to him foi the assistance of his name in raising a loan to the amount of the sum named. This was a kind of favour which a man should ack almost on his knees, — and which, if so asked, M/. Sextus Parker would certainly refuse. And here was Ferdinand Lopez asking it, — whom Sextus Parker had latterly regarded as an opulent man, — and asking it not at all on his knees, but, as one might say, at the muzzle of a pistol. " Accommodation bill I " said Sexty. " Why, you ain't hard up ; are you ?" '* I'm not going just at present to tell you much about my aifairs, and yet I expect you to do what I ask you. I don't suppose you doubt my ability to raise £750." ** Oh, dear no," said Sexty, who had been looked at and who had not borne the inspection well. ** And I don't suppose you would refuse me even if I were hard up as you call it." There had been affairs before between the two men in which Lopez had probably been the stronger, and the memory of them, added to the inspection which was still going on, was heavy upon poor Sexty. " Oh, dear no ; — I wasn't thinking of refusing. I suppose a fel- low may be a little surprised at such a thing." "I don't know why you need bo surprised, as such things ore verj"^ common. I happen to have taken a share in a loan a little beyond my immediate means, and therefore want a few hundreds. There is no one I can ask with a better grace than you. If you ain't — afraid about it, just sign it." " Oh, I ain't afi-aid," said Sexty, taking his pen and writing his name across the bill. But even tefore the signature was finished, when his eye was taken away from the face of his companion and fixed upon the disagreeable piece of paper beneath his hand, he re- pented of what he was doing. Ho almost arrested his signature hulf-way. He did hesitate, but had not pluck enough to stop his hand. " It does seem to be a d d odd transaction all the same," he said as he leaned back in his chair. " It's the commonest thing in the world," said Lopez picking up the bill in a leisurely way, folding it nnd putting it intohL pocket- book. "Have om* names never been together on a bit of paper before?" EVERETT WHARTON. 7 •' When "we both had something to make by it." " You've nothing to make and nothing to lose by this. Good (lay and many thanks ; — though I don't think so much of the affair .iH you seem to do." Then Ferdinand Lopez took his departure and Sexty Parker was loft alone in his bowildennent. "By George,— that's queer," he said to himself. " Who'd have thought of Lopez being hard up for a fow hundred pounds ? But it must be all right. ]lo wouldn't have come in that fashion, if it hadn't been all right. I oughtn't to have done it though ? A man ought never to do that kind of thing; — never, —never ! " And Mr. Sextus Parker was much discontented with himself, so that when he got home that evening to the "^ife of his bosom and his little family at Ponders End, he by no means made himself agree- able to them. For that sum of £750 sat upon his bosom as he ate his supper, and lay upon his chest as he slept,— like a night- mare. CITAPTJ^R 11. EVERETT WIIAHTON* On that same day Lopez dined with his friend Everett Wharton at a new club called the Progress, of which they were both members. The Progress was certainly a new club, having as yet been open hardly more than three years ; but still it was old enough to have seen many of the hopes of its eaily youth become dim with age and inaction. For the Progress had intended to do great things tor the liberal party, — or rather for political liberality in general, — and had in truth done little or nothing. It had been got up with con- siderable enthusiasm, and for a while certain fiery politicians had believed that through the instrumentality of this itistitution men of genius, and spirit, and natural power, but without wealth, — ■ moaning always themselves, — would be supplied with sure seats in parliament and a probable share in the Government. But no such results had been achieved. There had been a want of something, —some deficiency felt but not yot defined, — which had hitherto been fatal. The young men said it was because no old stager who knew the way of pulling the wires would come forward and put the club in the proper groove. The old men said it was because the young men were pretentious puppies. It was, however, not to be doubted that the ]>arty of Progress had become shjck, and that the liberal politicians of the countr}"^, although a special new club had been opened for the furtherance of their views, were not at present making much way. '* What wc want is organization," said one of the leading y«)ung men. But the organization was not as yet forth- coming. The club, nevertheless, went on its way, like other clubs, and 8 THE PRIME MINISTKR. 'I 1 11 men din^d and smoked and played billiards and pretendeti to read. Some few energetic members still hoped that a good day would come in which their grand ideas might be realised , — but as rejjrai dcd the members generally, they were content to eat and drink and play billiards. It was a fairly good club, — with a sprinkling of liberal lordlings, a couple of dozen of members of Parliament who had been made to believe that they would neglect their party dutit'.< unless they paid their money, and the usual assortment of harrij- ters, attorneys, city merchants and idle men. It was good enough at any rate for Ferdinand Lopez, who was particular about his dinner, and had an opinion of his own about wines. He had been heard to assert that, for real quiet comfort, there was not a club in London equal to it ; but his hearers were not aware that in past days he had been black-balled at the T and the G — . These were accidents which Lopez had a gift of keeping in the back-ground. His present companion, Everett Wharton, had, us well as himself, been an original member ;— and Wharton had been one of those who had hoped to find in the club a stepping-stone to high political life, and who now talked often with idle energy of the need of organization. ** For myself," said Lopez, " I oan conceive no vainer objet't of ambition than a seat in the British Parliament. What does any man gain by it ? The few who are successful work very hard for little pay and no thanks, — or nearly equally hard for no pay and as little thanks. The many who fail sit idly for hours, undergoing the weary task of listening to platitudes, aiul enjoy in return the now absolutely valueless privilege of having M.P. written on their letters." " Somebody must make laws for the country." ** I don't see the necessity. I think the country would do un- commonly well if it were to know that no old law would be altered or new law made for the next twenty years." •* You wouldn't have repealed the corn laws ? " "There are no corn lawsto repeal now." *' Nor modify the income tax ? " " I would modify nothing. But at any rate, whether laws are to be altered or to be left, it is a comfort to me that I need not put mv finger into that pie. There is one benefit indeed in being in the House. ' " You can't be arrested." "Well; — that, as far as it goes; and one other. It assists s» man in getting a seat as the director of certain Companies. People are still such asses that they trust a Board of Directors made up of members of Parliament, and therefore of course members are made welcome. But if you want to get into the House why don't you arrange it with your father, instead of waiting for what the club may do for j'ou ? " " My father wouldn't pay a shilling for such a purpose. He was never in the House himself." EVKUKTT WHAKTON. 9 86. He wad •' And there foro dewpisea it." " A little ot that, perhaps. No man over worked harder than ho did, or, in his way, more successfully ; and having seen one al'ior another of his juniors become members of Parliament, while he stuck to the attorneys, there is perhaps a little jealousy about it." ••From what I fco of the way you live at home, I should think your father would do anything for you, — with proper managnmont. There is no doubt, I suppose, that he could afFord it?" ♦' My fjithor never in his life said anything to mo about his own money alfaiis, though he says a groat deal about mine. No man ever was closer than ray father. But I believe that he could afford almost anything." " I wish I had such a father," said Ferdinand Lopez. *• I think that I should succeed in ascertaining the extent of his capa- bilitios, and in making some uso of them too." Wharton nearly asked nis friond, — almost summoned courage to ask him, — whether his father had done much for him. They were very intimate; and on one subject, in which Lopez was much inte- rested, their confidence had been very close. But the younger and the weaker nnxn of the two could not quite bring himself to the point of making an inquiry which he thought would be disagree- able. Lopez had never before, in all their intercourse, hinted at the possibiliiy of his havinj: or having had filial aspirations. He had been as though he had been created pelf- sufficient, indepen- dent of mother'^ milk or father's mon^3y. Now the question might have been ask(;(l almost naturally. But it was not a^sked. Everett Whiu'ton was a trouble to his father, — but not an agoniz- ing trouble, as are some sons. His faults were not of a nature to rob his father's cup of all its sweetness and to bring his grey hairs with sorrow to tho grave. Old Wharton had never had to ask him- self whether he should now, at length, let his son fall into the lowest abysses, or whether he should yet again struggle to put him on his legs, again forgive him, again pay his debts, again endea- vour to forget dishonour, and place it all to the score of thought- less youth. Had it been so, i think that, if not on the first or second fall, certainly on the third, tho young man would have gone into the abyss ; for Mr. Wharton was a stem man, and capable of coming to a clear conclusion on things that were nearest and even dearest to himself. But Everett Wharton had simply shown himself to be inefficient to earn his own bread. He had never declined even to do this, — but had simply been inefficient. He had not declared either by words or actions that as his father was a rich man, and as he was an only son, he would therefore do nothing. But he had tiied his hand thrice, and in each case, after but short trial, had assured his father and his friends that the thing had not suited him. Leaving Oxford without a degree, — fur the reading of the schools did not suit him, — he had gone" iiito a banking-house, by no meajis as a mere clerk, but with au 10 TIIK ITJMK MTMSTKR. i\ i. cxpreHsofl ])V()j)osItion from hi.^ father, biiekod by tho assent of a partner, that lie should work liis way up to weaUli and a fi^reat commercial position. But six mouths taught him that banking was " an abomination," a>id he at onco wont into a courao of read- ing with a barrister. He lemained at this till he was called, — for a man may be called witli very little continuous work. But after ho was called the solitude of his chambers was too much for him, and at twenty-five he found that the Stock Exchange was the mnrt in tho world for such talents and energies us he possessed. What was tho nature of his failure durin*^ the year that he went into tho city, was known only to himsjilf and his father, — unless Ferdinand Lopez knew somethin;^ of it also. But at six-and- twenty the Stock Exchange was also abandoned ; and now, at eight-and-twenty, Everett Wharton had discovered that a parlia- mentarj'' career was that for which nature and his special genius had intended him. lie had probably suggested this to his father, and had met with some cold rebuff. Everett Wharton was a good-looking, manly fellow, six feet high, with broad shoulders, with light hair, wearing a large silky bushy beard, which made him look older than his years, who neither by his speech nor by his appearance would ever bo taken for a fool, but who showed by the very actions of hiH body as well as by the play of his face, that he lacked firmness of purpose. Ho certainly was no fool. Ho had read much, and, though he gene- rally forgot what he read, there were left with him from his read- ings certain nebulous lights begotten by other men's thinking which enabled him to talk on most subjects. It cannot bo said of him that ho did much thinking for himself ; — but he thought that ho thought. Ho believed of himself that he had gone rather deep into politics, and that he was entitled to call aany statesmen asses because they did not see tho things which he saw. He had the great question of labour, and all that refers to unions, strikes, and lock-outs, quite at his fingers' ends. He know how the Church of England should be dipestablished and rccomposed. He was quite clear on questions of finance, and saw to a ** t" how pro- gress should be made towards communism, so that no violence should disturb that progress, and that in the due course of cen- turies all desire for personal property should be conquered and annihilated by a philanthropy so general as hardly to be accounted a virtue. In tho| meantime ho could never contrive to pay his tailor's bill regularly out of the allowance of £400 a year which his father made liim, and was always dreaming of the comforts of a handsome income. He was a popular man certainly, — very popular with women, to whom he was always courteous, and generally liked by men, to whom he was genial and good-natured. Though he was not him- self aware of the fact, he was very dear to his father, who in his own silent way almost admired and certainly liked the openness and guileless freedom of a character which was very opposite to his own. the Hon, than he listen to I'i verott living ni be said ( take an : it may s nitely'fii tious cla Indef-t that som that soni believe ii friend w may fiat without ] another, the way i most ma members daughter nearly su reason to friend, — i liattering "rilt( out of the KVKRKTT WHARTOK. n his own. Tho fathor, th(iiiLi:h ho had never said a word to flatter thi' Hon, ,li,l ill truth give his oirKpring credit for greater talent than he possessed, and, even when upj)f>aring to scorn them, wouhl listen to tlio youn«r man's diatribes almost with satisfaction. And J'iVerett was verj' d-ar also to a sister, who was the only other living nionibor of this branch of tho Wharton family. Much will be said of iior in these pages, and it is hoped that the reader may take an iiit((io8t in her fate But hero, in speaking of the brother, it may suJIioo to say, that the sister, who was endowed with infi- nitely fini-r jijifts than his, did give credit to the somewhat preten- tious claims of her less noble brother. Indeed it had been ^lerhftps a misfortune with Everett Wharton that some peopjc had believed in him, — and a further misfortune that some others had thought it worth their while to pretend to believe in him. Among the latter might probably bo reckoned the friend with whom he was now dining at the Progress. A man may flatter another, as liopez occasionally did Hatter Wharton, without preconcerted falsehood. It suits one man to be well with another, and the one ?.ear.i.s gradually and perhaps unconsciously the way to take advantage of the foibles of the other. Now it was most material to Lopez that he should stand well with all the members of the Wharton family, as ho aspired to the hand of the daughter of the house. Of her regard he already thought himself nearly sure. Of tho father's sanction to such a marriage he bed reason to be almost more than doubtful. l>ut the brother was his friend, — and in such circumstances a man is almost justified in flattering a brother. " I'll tell you what it is, Lopez," said Wharton, as they strolled out of the club together, a little after ten o'clock, " the men of the present day won't give themselves tho trotible to occupy their minds with matters which have, or should have, renl interest. Pope know all about it when he said that ' The proper study of mankind is man.' But people don't read Pope now, or if they do they don't take tho trouble to understand him." " Men are too busy making money, my dear fellow." ** That's just it. Money's a very nice thing." "Very nice," said Lopez. **But tho search after it is debasing. If a man could make money for four, or six, or even eight hours a day, and then wash his mind of the pursuit, r^,s a clerk in an oflice washes the copies and ledgers out of his mind, then " '* He would never make money in that way, — and keep it." " And therefore the whole thing is debasmg. A man ceases to care for the great interests of the world, or even to bo aware of their existence, when his whole soul is in Spanish bonds. They wanted to make a banker of mo, but I found that it would kill t would kill me, 1 think, if I Lad to confine luystlf to Spanish boud a. 1;^ 12 TIIR I'UIMK MtNISTKR. " You know what I moan. You at any rutf* cnn undwrHtaiwl tno, though I fear you are too far gone to abandon tho idea of niakini? a fortune." " I would abandon it to .w if t could come into a fortuuo roadv made. A man miiat at any rate eat/' •* Yes ;--he must eat. But I ara not quite suro," said Wharton thoughtfully, *' that he need think iibuut what ho onff." "Unless the beef is sent up without horse radish!" It had liHpperied that when tho two men sat down to their dinner the insufficient quantity of tliat vegetable Ruprtliod by the steward of the club had been all consumed, and Wharton had complained of the grievance. "A man has a right to that for which he has paid," said Wharton, with mock solemnity, "and if he papsos over lachoN of that nature without observation he does an injury to humanity at large. I'm not poing to be caught in a trap, you know, becauso I like horse radish with my beef. Well, I can't go farther out of my way, as I have a deal of ronding to do boforo I court my Morpheus. If you'll take my advice you'll go slraight to tbe governor. Whatever Emily may feel I don't think sho'll say much to encourage you unless you go about it after that fashion. She has prim notions of her own, which perhaps are not after all so much amiss when a man wants to marry a girl." ** God forbid that I should think that anything about your sister was amiss ! " "I don't think there is much myself. Women are generally superficial, — but some are honestly superficial and some dishotjestly. Emily at any rate is honest." *' Stop half a moment." Then they paunterod arm in arm down the broad pavement leading from Pall Mall to the Duke of York's column. " I wish I could make out your father more clearly. He is always civil to me, but he has a cold way of looking at me which makes me think I am not in his good books." " He is like that to everybody." "I never seem to get beyond the skin with him. You must have heard him speak of me in my absence ?" " Tie never says very much about any body." ' ' But a word would let me know how the land lies. You know me well enough to be aware that I am the last man to be curious as to what others think of me. Indeed I do not earn about it as much .ls a man should do. I am utterly indifferent to the opinion of the world at large, and would never object to the company of a pleasant person because the pleasant person abused me behind my back. What I value is the pleasantness of the man and no' his liking or disliking for myself. But here the dearest aim of my life is concerned, and I might be guided either this way or that, to my groat advantage, by knowing whether I stand well or ill with him." " You have dined three timos within the last three months in KVEHKTT WIIAKTON. 18 Manchester SqujiTO, aud I don't know any othor man, — cortninly no otliui' young luuu, — who hu8 had Huch titrong proof of intimacy from my fathor." " Yeu, and I know my advautagos. But I have beun there as your friend, not as his." " He doesn't care twopence about my friends. I wanted to give Charlie iSkute a dinner, but my father wouldn't have him at any prico." *' Charlie Skate is out at elbows, and beta at billiards. I am respectable, — or at any rate your father thinks so. Your fither is more anxious about you than you are aware of, and wishes to make his house pleasant to you as long as he can do so to your advantage. As far as you are concerned ho rather approves of me, fancying that my turn for making money is stronger than my turn tor spending it. Nevurtlieless, he looks upon me us a friend of yours rall:>^r than his own. Though he has given me three (liuuers in three months, — and I own the greatness of his honpi- lality, — I don't suppose he ever i^aid a word in my favour. I wish £ knew what he does say." " He says he knows nothing about you." "Oh; — that's itv is it? Then he can know no harm. When next he says so ask him of how many of the men who dine at his house he can nay as much. Good night ; — I won't keep you any longer. But I can tell you this ; — if between us we can manage to handle him rightly, you may get your seat in Parliament aud I may get my wife; that is, of course, if she will have me." Then they parted, but Lopez remained in the pathway walking up and down by the iside of the old military club, thinking of things. He certainly knew his friend, tho younger Whai'ton, in- tiniutely, appreciating the man's good qualities, and being fully awure of the man's weakness. By his questions he had extracted quite enough to assure himself that Ji^mily's father would be itdvorse to his proposition. He had not felt much doubt before, but now he was certain. " He doesn't know much about me," he huij musing to himself. " Well, no; he doesn't; — and there isn't very much that I can tell him. Of coiurse he's wise, — as wisdom. gues. But then, wise men do do foolish things at intervals. The Uiscreetest of city bankers are talked out of their money ; the most scrupulous of matrons are talked out of their virtue ; the most experienced of . tatesmun are talked out of their principles. And who can really calculate chances 'i Me'i who lead forlorn hopes generally push through without beiug wounded ; — and the fifth or sixth heir comes to a title" So much he said, palpably, though to himself, with his inner voice. Then,— impalpably, with no even inner voice, — he asked himself what chance he might have of prevailing with the girl herself ; and he almost ventured lo tell himself that in that direction he need not despair. Ill \eiy truth he loved tho girl and rovereiiCed her, believing 14 TMK I'UIMK MIMIHTKU. her to bo better and higher und nobler th^ii other human beinpe,— iiH a man doea when he it) in love ; and 80 bulioving, ho liad thutic duubtH as to bid own uucoetis which Huch roveruuce produces. «i» CIIAI'TKU 111. 3 ii MH. AUEL WIIAUIOJ., Q.C. liUrEZ was not a man to let granu grow undur hi8 feet when ho had anything to do. Whunhe wastirudof walking backwardH und for- wards ovur the same bit of pavement , subject all the while to a cold east wind, ho went home and thought of the same matter while ho lay in bed. Even were ho to got the girl's asnuranceu of love, without the father's consent he might find himself farther from his object than ever. Mr Wharton was a man of old fashions, who would think himself ill-used and his daughter ill- used, and who would think also that a general ofTouce would have been committed against good social manners, if his daughter wore to be asked for her hand without his previous consent. Should he absolutely refuse, — why then the battle, though it would bo a desperate battle, might perhaps bo fought with other strategy ; but, giving to I he matter his best consideration, Lopez thought it expedient to go at once to the father. In doing this ho would have no silly tremors. Whatever ho might feel in speaking to the girl, he had sufiicieut self-contidence to bo able to ask tho father, if not with assurance at any rate without ti'opidation. It was, ho thouglit, probable that the father, at tho first attack, would neither altogether accede, or altogether refuse. The disposition of the man was averse to the probability of an absolute reply at tho first moment. The lover imagined that it might be possible for him to take advantage of the period of doubt which would thus be created. Mr. Wharton was and had for a great many years been a barris- ter practising in tho Equity Courts, — or rather in one Equity Court, for throughout a life's work now extending to nearly tifty years, he had hardly ever gone out of the single Vice-Chancellor s Court which was much better known by Mr. Wharton's name than by that of tho less eminent judge who now sat there. Ilis had been a very peculiar, a very toilsome, but yet probably a very satisfactory life. He had begun his practice early, and had worked in a stuff gown till he was nearly sixty. At that time he had amassed a large for- tune, mainly from his profession, but partly also by the careful uso of his own small patrimony and by his wife's money. Men knew that ho was rich, but no one knew the extent of his wealth. When he submitted to take a silk gown, ho declared among his friends that he (lid so as a step preparatory to his retirement. The altered MR. AIIKL WHARTON, Q.O. 16 iiuttUod of work would not suit him at hiH uce, nor, — aH ho Htiid, — would it ho protitiihUv Ilo wouUl tuku hia Hilk tt^un honour lor IiIh (hM^linin^ yuin-H, ho thut ho might become a bencher at his Inn. Uut ho had now bo*)n working for the laut twelve or fourteon yoani with hiH Hilk gown,— ulmoHt uh hard uh iu youugor