a man sees his opening on this
side or on that,--as is the case with the lawyers. Or he has a body
of men at his back ready to support him on this side or on that, as
we see with commercial men. Or perhaps he has some vague idea that
aristocracy is pleasant, and he becomes a Conservative,--or that
democracy is prospering, and he becomes a Liberal. You are a Liberal,
Mr. Finn."

"Certainly, Duke."

"Why?"

"Well;--after what you have said I will not boast of myself.
Experience, however, seems to show me that Liberalism is demanded by
the country."

"So, perhaps, at certain epochs, may the Devil and all his works; but
you will hardly say that you will carry the Devil's colours because
the country may like the Devil. It is not sufficient, I think, to say
that Liberalism is demanded. You should first know what Liberalism
means, and then assure yourself that the thing itself is good. I dare
say you have done so; but I see some who never make the inquiry."

"I will not claim to be better than my neighbours,--I mean my real
neighbours."

"I understand; I understand," said the Duke laughing. "You prefer
some good Samaritan on the opposition benches to Sir Timothy and the
Pharisees. It is hard to come wounded out of the fight, and then to
see him who should be your friend not only walking by on the other
side, but flinging a stone at you as he goes. But I did not mean just
now to allude to the details of recent misfortunes, though there is
no one to whom I could do so more openly than to you. I was trying
yesterday to explain to myself why I have, all my life, sat on what
is called the Liberal side of the House to which I have belonged."

"Did you succeed?"

"I began life with the misfortune of a ready-made political creed.
There was a seat in the House for me when I was twenty-one. Nobody
took the trouble to ask me my opinions. It was a matter of course
that I should be a Liberal. My uncle, whom nothing could ever induce
to move in politics himself, took it for granted that I should run
straight,--as he would have said. It was a tradition of the family,
and was as inseparable from it as any of the titles which he had
inherited. The property might be sold or squandered,--but the
political creed was fixed as adamant. I don't know that I ever had
a wish to rebel, but I think that I took it at first very much as a
matter of course."

"A man seldom inquires very deeply at twenty-one."

"And if he does it is ten to on