Phineas Finn: The Irish Member

by Anthony Trollope

"My dear friend," he said, "I have come to you in a private trouble, and I want you to drop politics for half an hour. I have come to you for help." "A private trouble, Mr. Finn! Is it serious?" "It is very serious,—but it is no trouble of the kind of which you are thinking. But it is serious enough to take up every thought." "Can I help you?" "Indeed you can. Whether you will or no is a different thing." "I would help you in anything in my power, Mr. Finn. Do you not know it?" "You have been very kind to me!" "And so would Mr. Kennedy." "Mr. Kennedy cannot help me here." "What is it, Mr. Finn?" "I suppose I may as well tell you at once,—in plain language, I do not know how to put my story into words that shall fit it. I love Violet Effingham. Will you help me to win her to be my wife?" "You love Violet Effingham!" said Lady Laura. And as she spoke the look of her countenance towards him was so changed that he became at once aware that from her no assistance might be expected. His eyes were not opened in any degree to the second reason above given for Lady Laura's opposition to his wishes, but he instantly perceived that she would still cling to that destination of Violet's hand which had for years past been the favourite scheme of her life. "Have you not always known, Mr. Finn, what have been our hopes for Violet?"