s eloquence. It certainly was not due to the strong
religious feelings of the rector. It is to be feared that even the
thoughtful political convictions of the candidate did not altogether
produce the result. It was that chief man among the candidate's
guides and friends, that leading philosopher who would not allow
anybody to go home from the rain, and who kept his eyes so sharply
open to the pecuniary doings of the Carbottleites, that Mr.
Carbottle's guides and friends had hardly dared to spend a
shilling;--it was he who had in truth been efficacious. In every
attempt they had made to spend their money they had been looked into
and circumvented. As Mr. Carbottle had been brought down to Polpenno
on purpose that he might spend money,--as he had nothing but his
money to recommend him, and as he had not spent it,--the free and
independent electors of the borough had not seen their way to
vote for him. Therefore the Conservatives were very elate with
their triumph. There was a great Conservative reaction. But the
electioneering guide, philosopher, and friend, in the humble
retirement of his own home,--he was a tailor in the town, whose
assistance at such periods had long been in requisition,--he knew
very well how the seat had been secured. Ten shillings a head would
have sent three hundred true Liberals to the ballot-boxes! The mode
of distributing the money had been arranged; but the Conservative
tailor had been too acute, and not half-a-sovereign could be passed.
The tailor got twenty-five pounds for his work, and that was smuggled
in among the bills for printing.

Mr. Williams, however, was sure that he had so opened out the
iniquities of the dissenters as to have convinced the borough. Yes;
every Salem and Zion and Ebenezer in his large parish would be
closed. "It is a great thing for the country," said Mr. Williams.

"He'll make a capital member," said Silverbridge, clapping his friend
on the back.

"I hope he'll never forget," said Mr. Williams, "that he owes his
seat to the Protestant and Church-of-England principles which have
sunk so deeply into the minds of the thoughtful portion of the
inhabitants of this borough."

"Whom should they elect but a Tregear?" said the mother, feeling that
her rector took too much of the praise to himself.

"I think you have done more for us than any one else," whispered
Miss Tregear to the young Lord. "What you said was so reassuring!"
The father before he went to bed expres