The two fell into an excited discussion of the situation. The two rival heroes of the electoral six weeks on the Liberal side had been, of course, Ferrier and Lord Philip. Lord Philip had conducted an astonishing campaign in the Midlands, through a series of speeches of almost revolutionary violence, containing many veiled, or scarcely veiled, attacks on Ferrier. Ferrier, on the whole held the North; but the candidates in the Midlands had been greatly affected by Lord Philip and Lord Philip's speeches, and a contagious enthusiasm had spread through whole districts, carrying in the Liberal candidates with a rush. In the West and South, too, where the Darcy family had many friends and large estates, the Liberal nominees had shown a strong tendency to adopt Lord Philip's programme and profess enthusiastic admiration for its author. So that there were now two kings of Brentford. Lord Philip's fortunes had risen to a threatening height, and the whole interest of the Cabinet-making just beginning lay in the contest which it inevitably implied between Ferrier and his new but formidable lieutenant. It was said that Lord Philip had retired to his tent--alias, his Northamptonshire house--and did not mean to budge thence till he had got all he wanted out of the veteran Premier. "As for the papers," said Bobbie, "you see they're already at it hammer and tongs. However, so long as the _Herald_ sticks to Ferrier, he has very much the best of it. This new editor Barrington is an awfully clever fellow." "Barrington!--Barrington!" said Lady Niton, looking up, "That's the man who's coming to-night." "Coming here?--Barrington? Hullo, I wonder what's up?" "He proposed himself, Oliver says; he's an old friend." "They were at Trinity together. But he doesn't really care much about Oliver. I'm certain he's not coming here for Oliver's _beaux yeux_, or Lady Lucy's." "What does it matter?" cried Lady Niton, disdainfully. "H'm!--you think 'em all a poor lot?" "Well, when you've known Dizzy and Peel, Palmerston and Melbourne, you're not going to stay awake nights worriting about John Ferrier. In any other house but this I should back Lord Philip. But I like to make Oliver uncomfortable." "Upon my word! I have heard you say that Lord Philip's speeches were abominable." "So they are. But he ought to have credit for the number of 'em he can turn out in a week." "He'll be heard, in fact, for his much speaking?" Bobbie looked at his companion with a smile. Suddenly his cheek flushed. He sat down beside her and tried to take her hand. "Look here," he said, with vivacity, "I think you were an awful brick to stick up for Miss Mallory as you did." Lady Niton withdrew her hand. "I haven't an idea what you're driving at." "You really thought that Oliver should have given up all that money?" His companion looked at him rather puzzled. "He wouldn't have been a pauper," she said, dryly; "the girl had some."