Then, in the early spring of 187-, they came back to England,
having persistently carried out their project, at any rate in
regard to time. Lord Gerald, the younger son, was at once sent up
to Trinity. For the eldest son a seat was to be found in the House
of Commons, and the fact that a dissolution of Parliament was
expected served to prevent any prolonged sojourn abroad. Lady Mary
Palliser was at that time nineteen, and her entrance into the
world was to be her mother's greatest care and great delight. In
March they spent a few days in London, and then went down to
Marching Priory. When she left town the Duchess was complaining of
cold, sore throat, and debility. A week after their arrival at
Matching she was dead.
Had the heavens fallen and mixed themselves with the earth, had
the people of London risen in rebellion with French ideas of
equality, had the Queen persistently declined to comply with the
constitutional advice of her ministers, had a majority in the
House of Commons lost its influence in the country,--the utter
prostration of the bereft husband could not have been more
complete.
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