uality is his. Liberty he must have, and such position, high or
low, for himself and others, as each man's individual merits will
achieve for him. The doctrine of outward equality he eschews as a
barrier to all ambition, and to all improvement. The idea is as mean
as the thing is impracticable. But within,--is it in his soul or in
his heart?--within his breast there is a manhood that will own no
inferiority to the manhood of another. He retires to a corner that
an earl with his suite may pass proudly through the doorway, and he
grudges the earl nothing of his pride. It is the earl's right. But
he also has his right; and neither queen, nor earl, nor people shall
invade it. That is the creed of a radical.

Rowan, as I have said, was a man thoughtful as to his own position.
He had understood well the nature of the league between himself
and Butler Cornbury. It was his intention to become a brewer in
Baslehurst; and a brewer in Baslehurst would by no means be as the
mighty brewers of great name, who marry lord's daughters, and give
their daughters in marriage to mighty lords. He would simply be a
tradesman in the town. It might well be that he should not find the
society of the Tappitts and the Griggses much to his taste, but such
as it was he would make the best of it. At any rate he would make no
attempt to force his way into other society. If others came to him
let that be their look out. Now, when Cornbury asked him thus to come
to Cornbury Grange, as though they two were men living in the same
class of life,--as though they were men who might be bound together
socially in their homes as well as politically on the hustings, the
red colour came to his face and he hesitated for a moment in his
answer.

"You are very kind," said he.

"Oh! you must come," said Cornbury. "My wife particularly desires
it."

"She is very kind," said he. "But if you ask all your supporters over
to the Grange you'll get rather a mixed lot."

"I suppose I should; but I don't mean to do that. I shall be very
glad, however, to see you;--very glad."

"And I shall be very happy to come," said Rowan, having again
hesitated as he gave his answer.

"I wish I hadn't promised that I'd go there," he said to himself
afterwards. This was on the Sunday, after evening church,--an hour
or more after the people had all gone home, and he was sitting on
that stile, looking to the west, and thinking, as he looked, of that
sunset which he and another had s