ask myself why I was a Conservative: I had
been born one, and it was difficult for me to understand how any man of
ordinary intelligence could be anything else.

My father and grandfather were Conservative members before me, and I
come of a line which has always feared God, honoured the King, paid its
tithes, and tried to do something for the poor; and which regards
Radicals, Socialists, Nonconformists, and criminal lunatics as much the
same class of person. The only difference between myself and my
forebears is that I am much too pacific (or lazy) to cherish any
animosity against people whose views differ from my own. This fact,
coupled with certain family traditions, has brought me to my present
position in life; and, as I have already indicated, it will probably
keep me there. At least, so Kitty says.

"You must _assert_ yourself, dear," she declares. "Be _rude_ to people,
and go on being rude! Then they will take notice of you and give you
nice big posts to keep you quiet. Do you know what the Premier said
about you the other night at dinner, to Lady Bindle? (She told Dicky
Lever, and he told the Twins.) 'Inglethwaite? A dear fellow, a sound
party man, and runs his Department admirably. But--he strikes only on
the box!' Pig!"

It was about this time that Robin became a member of our establishment.
I had no idea what his political views were--it was just like me not to
have asked him, Kitty said--but felt confident that whatever side he
supported he would do so hot and strong.

But at first he gave no indication of his leanings. It was not until we
sat one night over our wine, in company with John Champion (member for a
big northern constituency, and regarded by many, notwithstanding various
eccentricities, as the coming man of the party) that he first gave
definite utterance to his views.

The cigars had gone round, and we had just performed that mysterious
national rite which, whether it owes its existence to economy or
politeness, invariably ends in several people burning their fingers with
the same match.

"I suppose, Mr Fordyce," said Champion, who had not met Robin before,
but obviously liked him, "that in common with all Scotsmen you are at
heart a Radical."

"Am I?" said Robin, with native caution.

"Most of your countrymen are," said Champion, with a sigh. "'They think
too much'--you know the rest of the quotation, I expect."

Robin nodded.

I was a little scandalised at this flagrant tribute to