general contempt. And it must not be forgotten that at the
distant period when Treby Magna first knew the excitements of an election, there
existed many other anomalies now obsolete, besides short-waisted coats and broad
stiffeners.
    But we have some notions of beauty and fitness which withstand the
centuries; and quite irrespective of dates, it would be pronounced that at the
age of thirty-four Harold Transome was a striking and handsome man. He was one
of those people, as Denner had remarked, to whose presence in the room you could
not be indifferent: if you do not hate or dread them, you must find the touch of
their hands, nay, their very shadows, agreeable.
    Esther felt a pleasure quite new to her as she saw his finely-embrowned face
and full bright eyes turned towards her with an air of deference by which
gallantry must commend itself to a refined woman who is not absolutely free from
vanity. Harold Transome regarded women as slight things, but he was fond of
slight things in the intervals of business; and he held it among the chief arts
of life to keep these pleasant diversions within such bonds that they should
never interfere with the course of his serious ambition. Esther was perfectly
aware, as he took a chair near her, that he was under some admiring surprise at
her appearance and manner. How could it be otherwise? She believed that in the
eyes of a high- man no young lady in Treby could equal her: she felt a glow of
delight at the sense that she was being looked at.
    »My father expected you,« she said to Mr Jermyn. »I delivered your letter to
him yesterday. He will be down immediately.«
    She disentangled her foot from her netting and wound it up.
    »I hope you are not going to let us disturb you,« said Harold, noticing her
action. »We come to discuss election affairs, and particularly desire to
interest the ladies.«
    »I have no interest with any one who is not already on the right side,« said
Esther, smiling.
    »I am happy to see at least that you wear the Liberal colours.«
    »I fear I must confess that it is more from love of blue than from love of
Liberalism. Yellow opinions could only have brunettes on their side.« Esther
spoke with her usual pretty fluency, but she had no sooner uttered the words
than she thought how angry they would have made Felix.
    »If my cause is to be recommended by the becomingness of my colours, then I
am sure you are acting in my interest