“Why, Francis, you are very unreasonable.  Elsie refused him as positively and uncompromisingly as possible on her way down to Derbyshire.  I do not think she would do so now; but how is he to know that?”

“I would hint as much to him, if I were you.  Why, Jane, a word from you might secure your sister’s happiness for life, and you shrink from saying it.”

“Indeed I do,” said Jane.  “I think no good can come from interfering in such matters, and I am particularly ill-adapted for such a delicate communication.  Besides, if one may judge by the last few weeks, it is Miss Phillips who ought to receive the offer of marriage, and not Elsie.  If her brother were to ask what Mr. Brandon’s intentions are, as he might very well do, the result would be a marriage of two very ill-assorted people.  She cannot comprehend the real goodness and simplicity of his character, and despises the man whom she is scarcely worthy to wait on.  She even looks down on her generous brother; she has no love for her brother’s children, and no sympathy with anyone.  I am really very glad to observe, with you, that her influence with Mr. Brandon has decreased of late; but he certainly has paid her a great deal of attention, and she expects a proposal.”

“Her face has no charm to me,” said Francis.  “Taken feature by feature it is handsome enough; but it wants play and variety, and it has not the perfect harmony of Mrs. Phillips’s.  That is a singularly beautiful index to a soul that appears to be nothing particular.  I have heard it said that we have all our ugly moments.  Have you ever seen such a time with Mrs. Phillips?”

“There are times when she certainly does not look beautiful to me, nor to Elsie either.  But I wanted to speak to you of your own affairs.  I had letter from Tom Lowrie this morning, in which he says that he hears from one of his old schoolfellows that you have been asked to stand for the Swinton group of burghs, and that every one says you will easily be able to carry them over the duke’s man.”

“Ah! has he heard about it?  I should have told you of it, but the more pressing personal interest of the letter from Melbourne, Mr. Phillips’s strange agitation, and this mysterious spiritual communication, put it out of my head for the time, and a word from you would put it aside for ever,” said Francis, with the old wistful look.

Jane, like all women who are interested in public matters at all, and they form a very small minority of her sex, rather over-estimated the importance of a parliamentary career.  She knew the turn of her cousin’s mind, his education as a man of the people, his position as a man of property, his earnest desire to do right, his patient habits of business, and his thorough method of research and inquiry, were all certain guarantees that he could not fail; and she had the belief that his abilities, and readiness, and confidence would make him an eloquent and skilful debater.  It appeared to her to be an object of