down to Matching on the next Monday. He said nothing of his plan
to anyone, and not a word passed between him and Lord Silverbridge
about Lady Mary during the first two or three days. But on
Saturday Silverbridge appeared at breakfast with a letter in his
hand. 'The governor is coming up to town,' he said.

'Immediately?'

'In the course of next week. He says that he thinks he shall be
here on Wednesday.'

It immediately struck Tregear that this sudden journey must have
some reference to Lady Mary and her engagement. 'Do you know why
he is coming?'

'Because of these vacancies in Parliament.'

'Why should that bring him up?'

'I suppose he hopes to be able to talk me into obedience. He wants
me to stand for the county--as a Liberal, of course. I intend to
stand for the borough as a Conservative, and I have told them so
down at Silverbridge. I am very sorry to annoy him, and all that
kind of thing. But what the deuce is a fellow to do? If a man has
got political convictions of his own, of course he must stick to
them.' This the young Lord said with a good deal of self-
assurance, as though he, by the light of his own reason, had
ascertained on which side the truth lay in the political contests
of the day.