She was, he knew, second cousin to Mr.Mildmay, who for years had been the leader of the Whigs, and was third cousin to Barrington Erle.

The late President of the Council, the Duke of St.Bungay, and Lord Brentford had married sisters, and the St.Bungay people, and the Mildmay people, and the Brentford people had all some sort of connection with the Palliser people, of whom the heir and coming chief, Plantagenet Palliser, would certainly be Chancellor of the Exchequer in the next Government.

Simply as an introduction into official life nothing could be more conducive to chances of success than a matrimonial alliance with Lady Laura.

Not that he would have thought of such a thing on that account! No;--he thought of it because he loved her; honestly because he loved her.

He swore to that half a dozen times, for his own satisfaction.