After returning to Killaloe at the end of his first parliamentary session Phineas renews his affectionate connection with Mary Flood Jones without entirely overcoming his feelings for Laura, then returns to London and becomes increasingly involved in debates over reform and the ballot alongside politicians such as Turnbull and Monk, gradually developing an independent political conscience and establishing his reputation when his first important speech in the House proves successful, while Laura has meanwhile married Robert Kennedy even though profound differences in temperament and outlook are already beginning to trouble their relationship, and as the government survives a difficult struggle over reform and Kennedy unexpectedly enters the Cabinet Phineas finds that although he has lost Laura romantically his parliamentary career is steadily gathering momentum.
