"I thought you liked hunting better. You used to ride as if you did. There's Bonebreaker back again in the stable for you. That poor fool who bought him could do nothing with him, and I let him have his money back."
"I don't see why you should have done that."
"Because I was the biggest fool of the two. Do you remember when that brute got me down under the bank in the river? That was about the nearest touch I ever had. Lord bless me;—how he did squeeze me! So here you are;—staying with the Pallisers,—one of a Government party I suppose. But what are you going to do for a seat, my friend?"
"Don't talk about that yet, Chiltern."
"A sore subject,—isn't it? I think they have been quite right, you know, to put Loughton into the melting-pot,—though I'm sorry enough for your sake."
"Quite right," said Phineas.
"And yet you voted against it, old chap? But, come; I'm not going to be down upon you. So my father has been here?"
"Yes;—he was here for a day or two."
"Violet has just been telling me. You and he are as good friends as ever?"
"I trust we are."