the less, I think, you see of Mr Tregear the better. Of course it
is out of the question he should be allowed to remain in this
house. You will make him understand that at once, if you please.'

'Oh, certainly,' said Silverbridge.



CHAPTER 8

He is a Gentleman

The Duke returned to Matching an almost broken-hearted man. He had
intended to go down into Barsetshire, in reference to the coming
elections;--not with the view of interfering in any unlordly, or
rather, unpeerlike fashion, but thinking that if his eldest son
were to stand for the county in a proper constitutional spirit, as
the eldest son of so great a county magnate ought to do, his
presence at Gatherum Castle, among his own people, might properly
be serviceable, and would certainly be gracious. There would be no
question of entertainment. His bereavement would make that
impossible. But there would come from his presence a certain
savour of proprietorship, and a sense of power, which would be
beneficial to his son, and would not, as the Duke thought, be
contrary to the spirit of the constitution. But all this was now
at an end. He told himself that he did not care how the elections
might go;--that he did not care much how anything might go.
Silverbridge might stand for Silverbridge if he so pleased. He
would give neither assistance nor obstruction, either in the
county or in the borough. He wrote to this effect to his agent, Mr