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 laugh at their own volubility and prejudices. When the ladies returned to the drawing-room, Lady Eskdale threw herself on the sofa with a deep sigh, which was echoed by her daughters as they ranged themselves round her.

"I feel quite desponding about the election to-night," she said, "and it is so mortifying to lose it; and I never heard anything so atrocious as the accounts of the bribery and intimidation on the other side. Mr. Mullins has been telling me all about it; he says it is quite unprecedented."

"So Mr. Winthrop says," added Lady Sophia.

"And Mr. Dickson," said Lady Teviot.

"And Mr. Wyvill," said Lady Walden.

"I cannot think such horrible wickedness can succeed," continued Lady Eskdale; "there will be a judgment upon it; and I really believe the Duke of Broughton is capable of anything atrocious. However, there is still a chance left; and if our friends are to be believed—and I quite put my faith in that nice Mr. Mullins—Beaufort and Ernest ought to succeed. There are 230 voters still unpolled, and Mr. Mullins assures me that of those we are sure of 120 or 130, I forget which; and so you see, my loves, we must subtract 130 from 250, and 287 from 130, and then add No, that is not right, sums are so difficult; but that the result would give us a majority I know, because Mullins says so."

"Mr. Winthrop says he is sure of it," added Lady Sophia.

"Mr. Dickson says we stand much higher than he had expected the first day," said Lady Teviot.

"So Mr. Wyvill says," added Lady Walden.

"I think I feel sure we shall win all the time," said Lady Eskdale.

"And so do I," said Mary, after a pause; "and yet I cannot help thinking, though of course these gentlemen know best, that we should feel more sure if we were at