The Queen's government had been carried on for two or three years.

The Duke of Omnium had been the head of that Ministry; but during those years had suffered so much as to have become utterly ashamed of the coalition,--so much as to have said often to himself that under no circumstances would he again join any Ministry.

At this time there was no idea of another coalition.

That is a state of things which cannot come about frequently,--which can only be reproduced by men who have never hitherto felt the mean insipidity of such a condition.
But they who had served on the Liberal side in that coalition must again put their shoulders to the wheel.

Of course it was in every man's mouth that the Duke must be induced to forget his miseries and once more to take upon himself the duties of an active servant of the State.
But they who were most anxious on the subject, such men as Lord Cantrip, Mr.Monk, our old friend Phineas Finn, and a few others, were almost afraid to approach him.