“I am doubtful,” said Francis, shaking his head, “if I can afford to go into Parliament.”

“Have you not two thousand a year? and do not lawyers who can scarcely make a living go into Parliament?  I am sure there is some perjury on the subject of property qualification—­but as, perhaps, the latter is unnecessary, it is the less matter.”

“They go to increase their means, or their practice, or their influence, and generally take the first opportunity of accepting something better than the Chiltern Hundreds under Government,” said Francis.

“There must be something very wrong somewhere, if a country gentleman of your standing cannot afford to give his services to the House of Commons.  Have you brought the requisition that was sent to you?” said Jane.

“Yes; do you really want to see it?  I have it in my pocket, and if I really felt in earnest on the subject, I ought to communicate with Mr. Freeman, the earl’s political agent in London, to know how he will favour a man who would support the general policy of Government, but who will hold himself free to vote against them whenever he sees them in the wrong.  My only means of securing the earl’s influence is by convincing him that he cannot carry the burghs against Fortescue by such a man as he has to put up; and as I am rather doubtful on that point, I can scarcely assert it confidently.  If he chooses to withhold his family interest he can make me fail; but if it comes to the push, I would rather retire than let Fortescue get in.”

“Electioneering, then, is very nice and difficult work,” said Jane.

“Very difficult for the scrupulous, the sincere, and the far-seeing.”

“Who are just the sort of people whom we want to see in Parliament.”

“Whom you want to see, Jane, but not whom the two great parties wish to see.  Then, should I go to Mr. Freeman, do you think, with this requisition and a frank declaration of my principles, and hear what he says on the matter?  If the earl supports me I may count on a majority of twenty—­a safe enough one; and if not, shall I spend the thousand pounds in a glorious defeat; writing the boldest and most independent of addresses; making the most uncompromising speeches from the hustings, if I can find voice?”

“No fear of your finding voice, Francis,” said Jane, warmly.

“Regardless of the savour of rotten eggs; undaunted by the sneers at my birth and breeding; the tales about my father, the jeers at my mother; and only retiring at the last moment, when I have said all that I have got to say, but which, I fear, my audience were not much in a mood to hear.  My own idea is, that I should succeed better in the calm argumentative debates in Parliament, than as a hustings orator, or a popular declaimer.”

“Yes, you will, and you certainly should try the second, that you may attain to the first.  My uncle was asked to stand for these burghs some ten years ago, but he was too crotchety, and could not write an address that was at all likely to be acceptable to the electors, so he gave up the contest before it began.  Yet, you know, it would be well to have a few crotchety people in the House of Commons.  The game of life, whether social or political, is not played by only two sets of black and red men—­like chess or backgammon.”