“Yes,” said HARTINGTON, looking admiringly at ARPACHSHAD, who had taken off his coat, and was carefully folding it up, preparatory to overtaking a snail, whose upward march on a peach-tree his keen eye had noted; “but that wasn’t my fault.  I was dragged into it against my will.  It came about this way.  Months ago, when Mr. G.’s tour was settled, they said nothing would do but that I must follow him over the same ground, speech by speech.  If it had been to take place in the next day or two, or in the next week, I would have plumply said No.  But, you see, it was a long way off.  No one could say what might not happen in the interval.  If I’d said No, they would have worried me week after week.  If I said Yes, at least I wouldn’t be bored on the matter for a month or two.  So I consented, and, when the time came, I had to put in an appearance.  But I mean to cut the whole business.  Shall take a Garden, like you and SARK, only it shall be a place to lounge in, not to work in.  Should like to have a fellow like your ARPACHSHAD; soothing and comforting to see him going about his work.”

“I suppose you’ll take a partner?” I asked.  “Hope you’ll get one more satisfactory than SARK has proved.”

HARTINGTON blushed a rosy red at this reference to a partner.  Didn’t know he was so sensitive on account of SARK; abruptly changed subject.

“Fact is, TOBY,” he said, “I hate politics; always been dragged into them by one man or another.  First it was BRIGHT; then Mr. G.; now the MARKISS is always at me, making out that chaos will come if I don’t stick at my place in the House during the Session, and occasionally go about country making speeches in the recess.  Wouldn’t mind the House if seats were more comfortable.  Can sleep there pretty well for twenty minutes before dinner; but nothing to rest your head against; back falls your head; off goes your hat; and then those Radical fellows grin.  I could stand politics better if Front Opposition Bench or Treasury Bench were constructed on principle of family pews in country churches.  Get a decent quiet corner, and there you are.  In any new Reformed Parliament hope they’ll think of it; though it doesn’t matter much to me.  I’m going to cut it.  Done my share; been abused now all round the Party circle.  Conservatives, Whigs, Liberals, Radicals, Irish Members, Scotch and Welsh, each alternately have praised and belaboured me.  My old enemies now my closest friends.  Old friends look at me askance.  It’s a poor business.  I never liked it, never had anything to get out of it, and you’ll see presently that I’ll give it up.  Don’t you suppose, TOBY my boy, that you shall keep the monopoly of retirement.  I’ll find a partner, peradventure an ARPACHSHAD, and we’ll all live happily for the rest of our life.”

With his right hand thrust in his trouser-pocket, his left swinging loosely at his side, and his hat low over his brow, HARTINGTON lounged off till his tall figure was lost in the gloaming.