Everard's visit to Lord Sunderland had been productive of much good. The old earl was lonely in his declining age and embraced with ardour the prospect of becoming the protector of his grand-nephews. He sent for them immediately.

“Poor Ainslie,” said the compassionate old man, “with a good education he might have made a very different man. But he was left an orphan so early and was so flattered and indulged, that his mind became ruined.” Everard did not reply. He felt he could not speak in favour of the departed and all feeling of anger had long since left his mind. The story Miss Herbert told so confusedly was true in the main. Lord Sunderland had been wavering among several of his young friends, to fix who he thought most worthy of the borough of M---, which was vacant by the death of the last occupant, a nephew of his own, and who would eventually inherit the title. The younger brother of this nephew was abroad and was too wild to think of depending on. Everard's political ideas happened secretly to coincide with those of Lord Sunderland and the feeling with which he spoke of Lord Ainslie's death and his children wrought on the heart of the old man. Everard Price had besides, in spite of his worldliness in little things, an enthusiasm and hopefulness of spirit, which is in itself a merit to the aged.

Everard's dream when he was a very young lad was Politics and if in after life the little expectations he saw of realizing his hopes, and other perhaps less worthy occupations, deadened the feeling, it returned with redoubled force now, when a sudden vision opened upon him of the consummation of his wishes, like a fairy gift, without any trouble on his part. The only cloud in this brightness was that Dunstan – Harry Dunstan, his old familiar friend, was to be his opponent. He would rather it had been any one else; even as it was, he could not help evidently wishing for success.

Easter Eve saw Alixe and her two friends together for the first evening since they had parted in the country. Lady St Clair saw that Emily Price's spirits were very low and she endeavoured to fix her attention on the things most likely to interest her.