There remains¹ to us the very easy task of collecting together the ends of the thread of our narrative², and tying them into a simple knot, so that there may be no unravelling³. Of Mr Emilius it has been already said that his good fortune clung to him so far that it was found impossible to connect him with the tragedy of Bolton Row. But he was as made to vanish for a certain number of years from the world, and dear little Lizzie Eustace was left a free woman. When last we heard of her she was at Naples and there was then a rumour⁴ that she was about to join her fate to that of Lord George de Bruce Carruthers, with whom pecuniary⁵ matters had lately not been going comfortably. Let us hope that the match, should it be a match, may lead to the happiness and respectability of both of them.

As all the world knows, Lord and Lady Chiltern still live at Harrington Hall, and he has been considered to do very well with the Brake country. He still grumbles⁶ about Trumpeton Wood, and says that it will take a lifetime to repair injuries done by Mr Fothergill — but then who ever knew a Master of Hounds who wasn’t ill-treated by the owners of coverts⁷?

Of Mr Tom Spooner it can only be said that he is still a bachelor, living with his cousin Ned, and that none of the neighbours expect to see a lady at Spoon Hall. In one winter, after the period of his misfortune, he become slack about his hunting, and there were rumours⁸ that he was carrying out that terrible threat of his as to the crusade which he would go to find a cure for his love. But his cousin took him in hand somewhat sharply, made him travel abroad during the summer, and brought him out the next season, “as fresh as paint”, the members of the Brake Hunt declared. It was known to every sportsman in the country that poor Mr Spooner had been in love; but the affair was allowed to be a mystery, and no one ever

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