“The truth is I do not know him,” said
he, trying to correct his blunder.
“No;—not as yet. But I hope
that you may some day, as he is one of those men who
are both useful and estimable.”
“I do not know that I can use him,” said
Phineas; “but if you wish it, I will endeavour
to esteem him.”
“I wish you to do both;—but that
will all come in due time. I think it probable
that in the early autumn there will be a great gathering
of the real Whig Liberals at Loughlinter;—of
those, I mean, who have their heart in it, and are
at the same time gentlemen. If it is so, I should
be sorry that you should not be there. You need
not mention it, but Mr. Kennedy has just said a word
about it to papa, and a word from him always means
so much! Well;—good-night; and mind
you come up on Friday. You are going to the club,
now, of course. I envy you men your clubs more
than I do the House;—though I feel that
a woman’s life is only half a life, as she cannot
have a seat in Parliament.”
Then Phineas went away, and walked down to Pall Mall
with Laurence Fitzgibbon. He would have preferred
to take his walk alone, but he could not get rid of
his affectionate countryman. He wanted to think
over what had taken place during the evening; and,
indeed, he did so in spite of his friend’s conversation.
Lady Laura, when she first saw him after his return
to London, had told him how anxious her father was
to congratulate him on his seat, but the Earl had not
spoken a word to him on the subject. The Earl
had been courteous, as hosts customarily are, but
had been in no way specially kind to him. And
then Mr. Kennedy! As to going to Loughlinter,
he would not do such a thing,—not though
the success of the liberal party were to depend on
it. He declared to himself that there were some
things which a man could not do. But although
he was not altogether satisfied with what had occurred
in Portman Square, he felt as he walked down arm-in-arm
with Fitzgibbon that Mr. Low and Mr. Low’s counsels
must be scattered to the winds. He had thrown
the die in consenting to stand for Loughshane, and
must stand the hazard of the cast.
“Bedad, Phin, my boy, I don’t think you’re
listening to me at all,” said Laurence Fitzgibbon.
“I’m listening to every word you say,”
said Phineas.
“And if I have to go down to the ould country
again this session, you’ll go with me?”
“If I can I will.”
“That’s my boy! And it’s I
that hope you’ll have the chance. What’s
the good of turning these fellows out if one isn’t
to get something for one’s trouble?”
Mr. and Mrs. Bunce
