t the triumphant conclusion of the trial.
When acquitted, Phineas Finn was still member for Tankerville and
might have walked into the House on that very night. Instead of doing
so he had at once asked for the accustomed means of escape from his
servitude, and the seat for Tankerville was vacant. The most loving
friends of Mr. Browborough perceived at once that there was not
a chance for him. The borough was all but unanimous in resolving
that it would return no one as its member but the man who had been
unjustly accused of murder.

Mr. Ruddles was at once despatched to London with two other political
spirits,--so that there might be a real deputation,--and waited upon
Phineas two days after his release from prison. Ruddles was very
anxious to carry his member back with him, assuring Phineas of an
entry into the borough so triumphant that nothing like to it had ever
been known at Tankerville. But to all this Phineas was quite deaf.
At first he declined even to be put in nomination. "You can't escape
from it, Mr. Finn, you can't indeed," said Ruddles. "You don't at all
understand the enthusiasm of the borough; does he, Mr. Gadmire?"

"I never knew anything like it in my life before," said Gadmire.

"I believe Mr. Finn would poll two-thirds of the Church party
to-morrow," said Mr. Troddles, a leading dissenter in Tankerville,
who on this occasion was the third member of the deputation.

"I needn't sit for the borough unless I please, I suppose," pleaded
Phineas.

"Well, no;--at least I don't know," said Ruddles. "It would be
throwing us over a good deal, and I'm sure you are not the gentleman
to do that. And then, Mr. Finn, don't you see that though you have
been knocked about a little lately--"

"By George, he has,--most cruel," said Troddles.

"You'll miss the House if you give it up; you will, after a bit, Mr.
Finn. You've got to come round again, Mr. Finn,--if I may be so bold
as to say so, and you shouldn't put yourself out of the way of coming
round comfortably."

Phineas knew that there was wisdom in the words of Mr. Ruddles, and
consented. Though at this moment he was low in heart, disgusted with
the world, and sick of humanity,--though every joint in his body was
still sore from the rack on which he had been stretched, yet he knew
that it would not be so with him always. As others recovered so would
he, and it might be that he would live to "miss the House," should he
now refuse the offer made to him. H