The Duke of——­, and Mr. Ryland, Lord Raymond’s old antagonist, were the other candidates.  The Duke was supported by all the aristocrats of the republic, who considered him their proper representative.  Ryland was the popular candidate; when Lord Raymond was first added to the list, his chance of success appeared small.  We retired from the debate which had followed on his nomination:  we, his nominators, mortified; he dispirited to excess.  Perdita reproached us bitterly.  Her expectations had been strongly excited; she had urged nothing against our project, on the contrary, she was evidently pleased by it; but its evident ill success changed the current of her ideas.  She felt, that, once awakened, Raymond would never return unrepining to Windsor.  His habits were unhinged; his restless mind roused from its sleep, ambition must now be his companion through life; and if he did not succeed in his present attempt, she foresaw that unhappiness and cureless discontent would follow.  Perhaps her own disappointment added a sting to her thoughts and words; she did not spare us, and our own reflections added to our disquietude.

It was necessary to follow up our nomination, and to persuade Raymond to present himself to the electors on the following evening.  For a long time he was obstinate.  He would embark in a balloon; he would sail for a distant quarter of the world, where his name and humiliation were unknown.  But this was useless; his attempt was registered; his purpose published to the world; his shame could never be erased from the memories of men.  It was as well to fail at last after a struggle, as to fly now at the beginning of his enterprise.

From the moment that he adopted this idea, he was changed.  His depression and anxiety fled; he became all life and activity.  The smile of triumph shone on his countenance; determined to pursue his object to the uttermost, his manner and expression seem ominous of the accomplishment of his wishes.  Not so Perdita.  She was frightened by his gaiety, for she dreaded a greater revulsion at the end.  If his appearance even inspired us with hope, it only rendered the state of her mind more painful.  She feared to lose sight of him; yet she dreaded to remark any change in the temper of his mind.  She listened eagerly to him, yet tantalized herself by giving to his words a meaning foreign to their true interpretation, and adverse to her hopes.  She dared not be present at the contest; yet she remained at home a prey to double solicitude.  She wept over her little girl; she looked, she spoke, as if she dreaded the occurrence of some frightful calamity.  She was half mad from the effects of uncontrollable agitation.