f the people is declining; and why? because they are less employed.
If this spreads, they will become discontented and disaffected, and
I cannot help remembering that, if they become troublesome, it is our
office that will have to deal with them."

"This bad harvest is a great misfortune," said Endymion.

"Yes, but a bad harvest, though unquestionably a great, perhaps the
greatest, misfortune for this country, is not the entire solution of
our difficulties--I would say, our coming difficulties. A bad harvest
touches the whole of our commercial system: it brings us face to
face with the corn laws. I wish our chief would give his mind to that
subject. I believe a moderate fixed duty of about twelve shillings
a quarter would satisfy every one, and nothing then could shake this
country."

Endymion listened with interest to other views of his master, who
descanted on them at much length. Private secretaries know everything
about their chiefs, and Endymion was not ignorant that among many of the
great houses of the Whig party, and indeed among the bulk of what was
called "the Liberal" party generally, Mr. Sidney Wilton was looked upon,
so far as economical questions were concerned, as very crotchety,
indeed a dangerous character. Lord Montfort was the only magnate who was
entirely opposed to the corn laws, but then, as Berengaria would remark,
"Simon is against all laws; he is not a practical man."

Mr. Sidney Wilton reverted to these views more than once in the course
of their journey. "I was not alarmed about the Chartists last year.
Political trouble in this country never frightens me. Insurrections and
riots strengthen an English government; they gave a new lease even to
Lord Liverpool when his ministry was most feeble and unpopular; but
economical discontent is quite another thing. The moment sedition arises
from taxation, or want of employment, it is more dangerous and more
difficult to deal with in this country than any other."

"Lord Roehampton seemed to take rather a sanguine view of the situation
after the Bed-Chamber business in the spring," observed Endymion, rather
in an inquiring than a dogmatic spirit.

"Lord Roehampton has other things to think of," said Mr. Wilton. "He is
absorbed, and naturally absorbed, in his department, the most important
in the state, and of which he is master. But I am obliged to look
at affairs nearer home. Now, this Anti-Corn-Law League, which they
established last year at Manch