Barrington Erle, when he had first talked of sending Phineas down to Loughshane, had predicted for him all manner of parliamentary successes, and had expressed the warmest admiration of the manner in which Phineas had discussed this or that subject at the Union.

"We have not above one or two men in the House who can do that kind of thing," Barrington Erle had once said.

But now no allusions whatever were made to his powers of speech, and Phineas in his modest moments began to be more amazed than ever that he should find himself seated in that chamber.
To the forms and technicalities of parliamentary business he did give close attention, and was unremitting in his attendance.

On one or two occasions he ventured to ask a question of the Speaker, and as the words of experience fell into his ears, he would tell himself that he was going through his education,--that he was learning to be a working member, and perhaps to be a statesman.

But his regrets with reference to Mr.Low and the dingy chambers in Old Square were very frequent; and had it been possible for him to undo all that he had done, he would often have abandoned to some one else the honour of representing the electors of Loughshane.
But he was supported in all his difficulties by the kindness of his friend, Lady Laura Standish.