As he could no longer eat and drink as he had used to do, and as he cared no longer for the light that lies in a lady's eye, there was not much left to him in the world but cards and racing.

Nevertheless he was a handsome old man, of polished manners, when he chose to use them; a staunch Conservative and much regarded by his party, for whom in his early life he had done some work in the House of Commons.
"Silverbridge is all very well," he had said; "but I don't see why that young Tregear is to dine here every night of his life." "This is the second time since he has been up in town, papa." "He was here last week, I know." "Silverbridge wouldn't come without him." "That's d---- nonsense," said the Earl.

Miss Cassewary gave a start,--not, we may presume, because she was shocked, for she could not be much shocked, having heard the same word from the same lips very often; but she thought it right always to enter a protest.

Then the two young men were announced.
Frank Tregear, having been known by the family as a boy, was Frank to all of them,--as was Lady Mabel, Mabel to him, somewhat to the disgust of the father and not altogether with the approbation of Miss Cass.

But Lady Mabel had declared that she would not be guilty of the folly of changing old habits.