Phineas Redux | Page 9

determined to run the risk, and have thrown up the place which I held
under Government. I am to stand for Tankerville, as you have heard,
and I am told by those to whose tender mercies I have been confided by
B. E. that I have not a chance of success.
Your invitation is so tempting that I cannot refuse it. As you say, I have
nothing to do till the play begins. I have issued my address, and must
leave my name and my fame to be discussed by the Tankervillians till I
make my appearance among them on the 10th of this month. Of course,
I had heard that Chiltern has the Brake, and I have heard also that he is
doing it uncommonly well. Tell him that I have hardly seen a hound
since the memorable day on which I pulled him out from under his
horse in the brook at Wissindine. I don't know whether I can ride a yard
now. I will get to you on the 4th, and will remain if you will keep me
till the 9th. If Chiltern can put me up on anything a little quieter than
Bonebreaker, I'll go out steadily, and see how he does his cubbing. I
may, perhaps, be justified in opining that Bonebreaker has before this
left the establishment. If so I may, perhaps, find myself up to a little
very light work.
Remember me very kindly to him. Does he make a good nurse with the
baby?
Yours, always faithfully,
PHINEAS FINN.

I cannot tell you with what pleasure I look forward to seeing you both
again.
The next few days went very heavily with him. There had, indeed, been
no real reason why he should not have gone to Harrington Hall at once,
except that he did not wish to seem to be utterly homeless. And yet
were he there, with his old friends, he would not scruple for a moment
in owning that such was the case. He had fixed his day, however, and
did remain in London till the 4th. Barrington Erle and Mr. Ratler he
saw occasionally, for they were kept in town on the affairs of the
election. The one was generally full of hope; but the other was no better
than a Job's comforter. "I wouldn't advise you to expect too much at
Tankerville, you know," said Mr. Ratler.
"By no means," said Phineas, who had always disliked Ratler, and had
known himself to be disliked in return. "I expect nothing."
"Browborough understands such a place as Tankerville so well! He has
been at it all his life. Money is no object to him, and he doesn't care a
straw what anybody says of him. I don't think it's possible to unseat
him."
"We'll try at least," said Phineas, upon whom, however, such remarks
as these cast a gloom which he could not succeed in shaking off,
though he could summon vigour sufficient to save him from showing
the gloom. He knew very well that comfortable words would be spoken
to him at Harrington Hall, and that then the gloom would go. The
comforting words of his friends would mean quite as little as the
discourtesies of Mr. Ratler. He understood that thoroughly, and felt that
he ought to hold a stronger control over his own impulses. He must
take the thing as it would come, and neither the flatterings of friends
nor the threatenings of enemies could alter it; but he knew his own
weakness, and confessed to himself that another week of life by himself
at Fowler's Hotel, refreshed by occasional interviews with Mr. Ratler,
would make him altogether unfit for the coming contest at Tankerville.
He reached Harrington Hall in the afternoon about four, and found
Lady Chiltern alone. As soon as he saw her he told himself that she was

not in the least altered since he had last been with her, and yet during
the period she had undergone that great change which turns a girl into a
mother. She had the baby with her when he came into the room, and at
once greeted him as an old friend,--as a loved and loving friend who
was to be made free at once to all the inmost privileges of real
friendship, which are given to and are desired by so few. "Yes, here we
are again," said Lady Chiltern, "settled, as far as I suppose we ever
shall be settled, for ever so many years to come. The place belongs to
old Lord Gunthorpe, I fancy, but really I hardly know. I do know that
we should give it up at once if we gave up the hounds, and that we can't
be turned out as long as we have them. Doesn't it seem odd to