t was all known and thoroughly
understood; and men in Baslehurst talked about the result as though
the matter were past a doubt. Nevertheless there were those who were
ready to bet on the Cornbury side of the question.

But though the thing was thus accurately settled, and though its
termination was foreseen by so many and with so perfect a certainty,
still the canvassing went on. In fact there were votes that had
not even yet been asked, much less promised,--and again, much less
purchased. The Hart people were striving to frighten the Cornbury
people out of the field by the fear of the probable expenditure; and
had it not been for the good courage of Mrs. Butler Cornbury would
probably have succeeded in doing so. The old squire was very fidgety
about the money, and the young squire declared himself unwilling
to lean too heavily upon his father. But the lady of the household
declared her conviction that there was more smoke than fire, and more
threats of bribery than intention of bribing. She would go on, she
declared; and as her word passed for much at Cornbury Grange, the
battle was still to be fought.

Among the votes which certainly had not as yet been promised was that
of Mr. Tappitt. Mr. Hart in person had called upon him, but had not
been quite satisfied with his reception. Mr. Tappitt was a man who
thought much of his local influence and local privileges, and was by
no means disposed to make a promise of his vote on easy terms, at a
moment when his vote was becoming of so much importance. He was no
doubt a liberal as was also Mr. Hart; but in small towns politics
become split, and a man is not always bound to vote for a liberal
candidate because he is a liberal himself. Mr. Hart had been
confident in his tone, and had not sufficiently freed himself from
all outer taint of his ancient race to please Mr. Tappitt's taste.
"He's an impudent low Jew," he had said to his wife. "As for Butler
Cornbury he gives himself airs, and is too grand even to come and
ask. I don't think I shall vote at all." His wife had reminded him
how civil to them Mrs. Cornbury had been;--this was before the
morning of the poker;--but Tappitt had only sneered, and declared he
was not going to send a man to Parliament because his wife had come
to a dance.

But we, who know Tappitt best, may declare now that his vote was to
have been had by any one who would have joined him energetically in
abuse of Luke Rowan. His mind was full of his grie