assumed its charms. But I now know very well that from the first it was
quite settled that down I should go. I was too curious to see the bride
in her new relations, and to observe something of the conjugal
administration of Lake, to allow anything seriously to stand in the way
of my proposed trip.

There was a postscript to Lake's letter which might have opened my eyes
as to the motives of this pressing invitation, which I pleased myself by
thinking, though penned by Captain Lake, came in reality from his
beautiful young bride.

This small appendix was thus conceived:--


'P.S.--Tom Wealdon, as usual, deep in elections, under the rose, begs you
kindly to bring down whatever you think to be the best book or books on
the subject, and he will remit to your bookseller. Order them in his
name, but bring them down with you.'


So I was a second time going down to Brandon as honorary counsel, without
knowing it. My invitations, I fear, were obtained, if not under false
pretences, at least upon false estimates, and the laity rated my legal
lore too highly.

I reached Brandon rather late. The bride had retired for the night. I had
a very late dinner--in fact a supper--in the parlour. Lake sat with me
chatting, rather cleverly, not pleasantly. Wealdon was at Brandon about
sessions business, and as usual full of election stratagems and
calculations. Stanley volunteered to assure me he had not the faintest