ing was coming
on, that he had hardly done his share of the work. Mr. Griffenbottom
had canvassed, and he had walked behind. Every now and then he had
attempted a little conversation, but in that he had been immediately
pulled up by the conscientious and energetic Mr. Trigger. As for
asking for votes, he hardly knew, when he had been carried back
into the main street through a labyrinth of alleys at the back of
Petticoat Yard, whether he had asked any man for his vote or not.
With the booking of the votes he had, of course, nothing to do. There
were three men with books;--and three other men to open the doors,
show the way, and make suggestions on the expediency of going hither
or thither. Sir Thomas would always have been last in the procession,
had there not been one silent, civil person, whose duty it seemed to
be to bring up the rear. If ever Sir Thomas lingered behind to speak
to a poor woman, there was this silent, civil person lingering too.
The influence of the silent, civil person was so strong that Sir
Thomas could not linger much.

As they came into the main street they encountered the opposition
party, Mr. Westmacott, Ontario Moggs, and their supporters. "I'll
introduce you," said Mr. Griffenbottom to his colleague. "Come along.
It's the thing to do." Then they met in the middle of the way. Poor
Ontario was hanging behind, but holding up his head gallantly,
and endeavouring to look as though he were equal to the occasion.
Griffenbottom and Westmacott shook hands cordially, and complained
with mutual sighs that household suffrage had made the work a deal
harder than ever. "And I'm only a week up from the gout," said
Griffenbottom. Then Sir Thomas and Westmacott were introduced, and at
last Ontario was brought forward. He bowed and attempted to make a
little speech; but nobody in one army or in the other seemed to care
much for poor Ontario. He knew that it was so, but that mattered
little to him. If he were destined to represent Percycross in
Parliament, it must be by the free votes and unbiassed political
aspirations of the honest working men of the borough. So remembering
he stood aloof, stuck his hand into his breast, and held up his
head something higher than before. Though the candidates had thus
greeted each other at this chance meeting, the other parties in the
contending armies had exhibited no courtesies.

The weariness of Sir Thomas when this first day's canvass was over
was so great that he was