Mr.Kennedy thinks that I should tell secrets." Why on earth had Mr.Kennedy invited him, Phineas Finn, to meet four Cabinet Ministers and Lady Glencora Palliser?
He could only have done so at the instance of Lady Laura Standish.

It was delightful for Phineas to think that Lady Laura cared for him so deeply; but it was not equally delightful when he remembered how very close must be the alliance between Mr.Kennedy and Lady Laura, when she was thus powerful with him.
At Saulsby Phineas did not see much of his hostess.

When they were making their plans for the one entire day of this visit, she said a soft word of apology to him.

"I am so busy with all these people, that I hardly know what I am doing.

But we shall be able to find a quiet minute or two at Loughlinter,--unless, indeed, you intend to be on the mountains all day.