He carried himself blithely, the cool night air was so grateful and sweet to him that he had no mind even to smoke.

There seemed to be no tangible reason for the change.

The political excitement, which a few weeks ago he had begun to feel exhilarating, had for him decreased now that his share in it lay behind the scenes, and he found himself wholly occupied with the purely routine work of the election.

Nor was there any sufficient explanation to be found in the entertainment which he had felt himself bound to accept at Mr.Bullsom's hands.

Of the wine, which had been only tolerable, he had drunk, as was his custom, sparingly, and of Mary Scott, who had certainly interested him in a manner which the rest of the family had not, he had after all seen but very little.