This might only imply a personal dissatisfaction with the borough’s representative, who of late had been very visibly fossilising; it would be difficult to explain a marked reaction in Hollingford against the tendencies of the country at large.  Still, a number of more or less active and intelligent persons had begun to talk of contesting the Tory seat, and with these the lady at Rivenoak held active communication.  They gathered about her this evening; enjoyed the excellent meal provided for them; inspected Mr. Dyce Lashmar, and listened attentively even to his casual remarks.  Mr. Lashmar might or might not prove to be the candidate of their choice; there was plenty of time to think about that; in the meantime, no one more suitable stood before them, and, having regard to Lady Ogram’s social authority, considerable from one point of view, they were very willing to interest themselves in a man of whom she thought so highly.  Very little was definitely known about him.  He was understood to be a gentleman of means and erudite leisure, nor did his appearance conflict with this description.  Now and then Dyce’s talk had an impressive quality; he spoke for the most part in brief, pregnant sentences, which seemed the outcome of solid thought and no little experience.  Constance Bride, observing him studiously, often admired his grave, yet easy, bearing, his facile, yet never careless speech.  Herself in doubt as to his real weight, whether as man or politician, she carefully watched the impression he produced on others; on the whole it seemed to be favourable, and once or twice she caught a remark decidedly eulogistic.  This pleased her.  Like everybody else this evening, she was in good spirits.

Mrs. Toplady, much observed and courted, but seemingly quite indifferent to homage, watched the scene with her eyes of placid good-humour, the roguish smile ever and again appearing on her lips.  She lost no opportunity of letting fall a laudatory word concerning Dyce Lashmar.  Her demeanour with humdrum persons was courteous amiability almost in excess; to the more intelligent she behaved with a humourous frankness which was very captivating.  At a certain moment of the evening, she found occasion to sit down by Constance Bride, and Constance would have been more than human had she altogether resisted the charm of that fine contralto modulating graceful compliments.  Mrs. Toplady had read the report of the social work at Shawe; it interested her keenly; she could not sufficiently admire the philanthropic energy which had been put into this undertaking—­in so great a part, as she heard, due to Miss Bride’s suggestions.

“I am glad to hear from Lady Ogram,” she said, “that there is a probability of your being in town before long.  If so, I hope you will let me have a long talk with you, about all sorts of things.  One of them, of course, must be Mr. Lashmar’s candidature.”

Saying this, Mrs. Toplady beamed with kindness.  Constance noted the words and the look for future reflection.  At this moment, she was occupied with the news that Lady Ogram thought of going to London, no hint of any such intention having before this reached her ear.