The elder son had not been left as well off as friends, or perhaps as he himself, could have wished.But he had risen in the world by his wits, had made his way into Parliament, and had become, as all readers of these chronicles know, a staff of great strength to his party.But he had always been a poor man.His periods of office had been much shorter than those of his friend Rattler, and his other sources of income had not been certain.
His younger half-brother, who, as far as the great world was concerned, had none of his elder brother's advantages, had been endowed with some fortune from his mother, and,--in an evil hour for both of them,--had lent the politician money.As one consequence of this transaction, they had not spoken to each other for years.On this quarrel, Mrs Roby was always harping with her own husband,--not taking his part.Her Roby, her Dick, hd indeed the means of supporting her with fair comfort, but had, of his own, no power of introducing her to that sort of society for which her soul craved.But Mr Thomas Roby was a great man--though unfortunately poor,--and moved in high circles.Because they had lent their money,--which was no doubt lost for ever,--why should they also lose the advantages of such a connection?
Would it not be wiser rather to take the debt as a basis whereon to found a claim for special fraternal observation and kindred intercourse? Dick, who was fond of his money, would not for a long time look at the matter in this light, but harassed his brother from time to time by applications which were quite useless, and which by the acerbity of their language altogether shut Mrs Roby from the good things which might have accrued to her from so distinguished a brother-in-law.But when it came to pass that Thomas Roby was confirmed in office by the coalition which has been mentioned, Mrs Dick became very energetic.She went herself to the official hero, and told him how desirous she was of peace.Nothing more should be said about the money,--at any rate for the present.Let brothers be brothers.And so it came to pass that the Secretary to the Admiralty, with his wife, were to dine at Berkeley Street, and that Mr Wharton was asked to meet them.
'I don't particularly want to meet Mr Thomas Roby,' the old barrister said.
'They want you to come,' said Emily, 'because there has been some family reconciliation.You usually do go once or twice a year.'
'I suppose it may as well be done,' said Mr Wharton.
'I think, papa, that they mean to ask Mr Lopez,' said Emily demurely.
'I told you before that I don't want to have you banished from your aunt's home by any man,' said the father.So the matter was settled, and the invitation was accepted.This was just at the end of May, at which time people were beginning to say that the coalition was a success, and some wise men to predict that at least fortuitous parliamentary atoms had so come together by accidental connection, that a ministry had been formed which might endure for a dozen years.Indeed there was no reason why there should be any end to a ministry built on such a foundation.
Of course this was very comfortable to such men as Mr Roby, so that the Admiralty Secretary when he entered his sister-in-law's drawing-room was suffused with that rosy hue of human bliss which a feeling of triumph bestows.'Yes,' said he, in answer to some would-be facetious remark from his brother, 'I think we have weathered that storm pretty well.It does seem rather odd, my sitting cheek by jowl with Mr Monk and gentlemen of that kidney;but they don't bite.I've got one of our own set at the head of our own office, and he leads the House.I think upon the whole we've got a little the best of it.' This was listened to by Mr Wharton with great disgust,--for Mr Wharton was a Tory of the old school, who hated compromises, and abhorred in his heart the clash of politicians to whom politics were a profession rather than a creed.
Mr Roby, senior, having escaped from the House, was of course the last, and had indeed kept all the other guests waiting half-an-hour,--as becomes a parliamentary magnate in the heat of the session.Mr Wharton, who had been early, saw all the other guests arrive, among them Mr Ferdinand Lopez.There was also Mr Mills Happerton,--partner in Hunky and Sons,--with his wife, respecting whom Mr Wharton at once concluded that he was there as being the friend of Ferdinand Lopez.If so, how much influence must Ferdinand Lopez have in that house! Nevertheless, Mr Mills Happerton was in his way a great man, and a credit to Mrs Roby.