At any rate you
shan't be thrown over." It was almost on his tongue,--the entire
story of his grievance, the expression of his feeling that he was not
being treated as one of the chosen; but he restrained himself. He
liked Barrington Erle well enough, but not so well as to justify him
in asking for sympathy.
Nor had it been his wont in any of the troubles of his life to ask
for sympathy from a man. He had always gone to some woman;--in old
days to Lady Laura, or to Violet Effingham, or to Madame Goesler. By
them he could endure to be petted, praised, or upon occasion even
pitied. But pity or praise from any man had been distasteful to him.
On the morning of the 1st of April he again went to Park Lane, not
with any formed plan of telling the lady of his wrongs, but driven by
a feeling that he wanted comfort, which might perhaps be found there.
The lady received him very kindly, and at once inquired as to the
great political tournament which was about to be commenced. "Yes; we
begin to-day," said Phineas. "Mr.
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