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