He had not at first been admitted into confidence, either by his sister or by Tregear, but had questioned his friend when he saw what was going on.

"Certainly I love your sister," Tregear had said; "do you object ?" Lord Silverbridge was the weaker of the two, and much subject to the influence of his friend; but he could on occasion be firm, and he did at first object.

But he did not object strongly, and allowed himself at last to be content with declaring that the Duke would never give his consent.
While Tregear was with his love, or near her, his hopes and fears were sufficient to occupy his mind; and immediately on his return, all the world was nothing to him, except as far as the world was concerned with Lady Mary Palliser.

He had come back to England somewhat before the ducal party, and the pleasures and occupations of London life had not abated his love, but enabled him to feel that there was something in life over and beyond his love; whereas to Lady Mary, down at Matching, there had been nothing over and beyond her love--except the infinite grief and desolation produced by her mother's death.
Tregear, when he received the note from Mrs.Finn, was staying at the Duke's house in Carlton Terrace.

Silverbridge was there, and, on leaving Matching, had asked the Duke's permission to have his friend with him.