er the meeting there should be a little dinner. Mr. Tappitt would
perhaps consent to take the chair at the dinner also. Mr. Tappitt
did consent to both propositions, and when the deputation withdrew,
he felt himself to be himself once more. His courage had returned
to him, and he would at once rebuke his wife for the impropriety of
the words she had addressed to him. He would rebuke his wife, and
would then proceed to meet Mr. Sharpit the attorney, at the Dragon,
and to take the chair at the meeting. It could not be that a young
adventurer such as Rowan could put down an old-established firm, such
as his own, or banish from the scene of his labours a man of such
standing in the town as himself! It was all the fault of Honyman,--of
Honyman who never was firm on any matter. When the meeting should be
over he would say a word or two to Sharpit, and see if he could not
put the matter into better training.

With a heavy tread, a tread that was intended to mark his
determination, he ascended to the drawing-room and from thence to the
bed-room above in which Mrs. Tappitt was then seated. She understood
the meaning of the footfall, and knew well that it indicated a
purpose of marital authority. A woman must have much less of natural
wit than had fallen to Mrs. Tappitt's share, who has not learned from
the experience of thirty years the meaning of such marital signs and
sounds. So she sat herself firmly in her seat, caught hold of the
petticoat which she was mending with a stout grasp, and prepared
herself for the battle. "Margaret," said he, when he had carefully
closed the door behind him, "I have come up to say that I do not
intend to dine at home to-day."

"Oh, indeed," said she. "At the Dragon, I suppose then."

"Yes; at the Dragon. I've been asked to take the chair at a popular
meeting which is to be held with reference to the late election."

"Take the chair!"

"Yes, my dear, take the chair at the meeting and at the dinner."

"Now, T., don't you make a fool of yourself."

"No, I won't; but Margaret, I must tell you once for all that that
is not the way in which I like you to speak to me. Why you should
have so much less confidence in my judgment than other people in
Baslehurst, I cannot conceive; but--"

"Now, T., look here; as for your taking the chair as you call it, of
course you can do it if you like it."

"Of course I can; and I do like it, and I mean to do it. But it isn't
only about that I've come to spe