She recovered herself instantly. 'I do believe it,' she said. 'I
do think that we are real friends.'
'Not that ring;--nor a ring at all after I had asked for it in
joke. You understand it all. But to go back to what we were
talking about,--if you can do anything for Frank, pray do. You know
it will break his heart. A man of course bears it better, but he
does not perhaps suffer the less. It is all his life to him. He
can do nothing while this is going on. Are you not true enough to
your friendship to exert yourself for him?' Silverbridge put his
hand up and rubbed his head as though he were vexed. 'Your aid
would turn everything in his favour.'
'You do not know my father.'
'Is he so inexorable?'
'It is not that, Mabel. But he is so unhappy. I cannot add to his
unhappiness by taking part against him.'
In another part of the room Lady Cantrip was busy with Lord
Popplecourt. She had talked about pheasants, and had talked about
grouse, had talked about moving the address in the House of Lords
in some coming session, and the great value of political alliances
early in life, till the young Peer began to think that Lady
Cantrip was the nicest of women.
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