oud they would run their horse alone;--they would vote for
Moggs, and for Moggs only. Or else,--as it was whispered,--they would
come to terms with Griffenbottom, and see that Sir Thomas was sent
back to London. The chairmen, and the presidents, and the secretaries
were powerful enough to get the better of Mr. Westmacott, and large
placards were printed setting forward the joint names of Westmacott
and Moggs. The two liberal candidates were to employ the same agent,
and were to canvass together. This was all very well,--was the very
thing which Moggs should have desired. But it was all arranged
without any consultation with him, and he felt that the objection
which had been raised was personal to himself. Worse than all, when
he was brought face to face with Mr. Westmacott he had not a word
to say for himself! He tried it and failed. Mr. Westmacott had been
a member of Parliament, and was a gentleman. Ontario, for aught he
himself knew, might have called upon Mr. Westmacott for the amount
of Mr. Westmacott's little bill. He caught himself calling Mr.
Westmacott, sir, and almost wished that he could bite out his own
tongue. He felt that he was a nobody in the interview, and that the
chairmen, the secretaries, and the presidents were regretting their
bargain, and saying among themselves that they had done very badly in
bringing down Ontario Moggs as a candidate for their borough. There
were moments before he left Percycross in which he was almost tempted
to resign.

But he left the town the accepted candidate of his special friends,
and was assured, with many parting grasps of the hand on the
platform, that he would certainly be brought in at the top of the
poll. Another little incident should be mentioned. He had been asked
by the electioneering agent for a small trifle of some hundred pounds
towards the expenses, and this, by the generosity of his father, he
had been able to give. "We shall get along now like a house on fire,"
said the agent, as he pocketed the cheque. Up to that moment there
may have been doubts upon the agent's mind.

As he went back to London he acknowledged to himself that he had
failed hitherto,--he had failed in making that impression at
Percycross which would have been becoming to him as the future member
of Parliament for the borough; but he gallantly resolved that he
would do better in the future. He would speak in such a way that the
men of Percycross should listen to him and admire. He woul