CHAPTER XVI

A PARTIAL DISPLAY OF BEAUCHAMP IN HIS COLOURS

Beauchamp presented himself at Mount Laurels next day, and formally asked Colonel Halkett for his vote, in the presence of Cecilia.

She took it for a playful glance at his new profession of politician:  he spoke half-playfully.  Was it possible to speak in earnest?

’I ‘m of the opposite party,’ said the colonel; as conclusive a reply as could be:  but he at once fell upon the rotten navy of a Liberal Government.  How could a true sailor think of joining those Liberals!  The question referred to the country, not to a section of it, Beauchamp protested with impending emphasis:  Tories and Liberals were much the same in regard to the care of the navy.  ‘Nevil!’ exclaimed Cecilia.  He cited beneficial Liberal bills recently passed, which she accepted for a concession of the navy to the Tories, and she smiled.  In spite of her dislike of politics, she had only to listen a few minutes to be drawn into the contest:  and thus it is that one hot politician makes many among women and men of a people that have the genius of strife, or else in this case the young lady did unconsciously feel a deep interest in refuting and overcoming Nevil Beauchamp.  Colonel Halkett denied the benefits of those bills.  ‘Look,’ said he, ’at the scarecrow plight of the army under a Liberal Government!’ This laid him open to the charge that he was for backing Administrations instead of principles.

‘I do,’ said the colonel.  ’I would rather have a good Administration than all your talk of principles:  one’s a fact, but principles? principles?’ He languished for a phrase to describe the hazy things.  ’I have mine, and you have yours.  It’s like a dispute between religions.  There’s no settling it except by main force.  That’s what principles lead you to.’

Principles may be hazy, but heavy artillery is disposable in defence of them, and Beauchamp fired some reverberating guns for the eternal against the transitory; with less of the gentlemanly fine taste, the light and easy social semi-irony, than Cecilia liked and would have expected from him.  However, as to principles, no doubt Nevil was right, and Cecilia drew her father to another position.  ’Are not we Tories to have principles as well as the Liberals, Nevil?’

‘They may have what they call principles,’ he admitted, intent on pursuing his advantage over the colonel, who said, to shorten the controversy:  ’It’s a question of my vote, and my liking.  I like a Tory Government, and I don’t like the Liberals.  I like gentlemen; I don’t like a party that attacks everything, and beats up the mob for power, and repays it with sops, and is dragging us down from all we were proud of.’

‘But the country is growing, the country wants expansion,’ said Beauchamp; ’and if your gentlemen by birth are not up to the mark, you must have leaders that are.’