"
"Pray understand me, my friend," said the old man, energetically. "I
am not advising you to abandon public life in order that you may live
in repose as a great nobleman. It would not be in your nature to do
so, nor could the country afford to lose your services. But you need
not therefore take your place in the arena of politics as though you
were still Plantagenet Palliser, with no other duties than those of a
politician,--as you might so well have done had your uncle's titles
and wealth descended to a son."
"I wish they had," said the regretful Duke.
"It cannot be so. Your brother perhaps wishes that he were a Duke,
but it has been arranged otherwise. It is vain to repine. Your wife
is unhappy because your uncle's Garter was not at once given to you."
"Glencora is like other women,--of course."
"I share her feelings. Had Mr. Gresham consulted me, I should not
have scrupled to tell him that it would have been for the welfare of
his party that the Duke of Omnium should be graced with any and every
honour in his power to bestow.
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