t
continue, until Quarrier exclaimed impatiently:

"What is it now?"

"Nothing less than an accusation of bribery and corruption."

Relief was audible in Denzil's laugh.

"It's reported," Mrs. Wade went on, "that Mrs. Quarrier has been
distributing money--money in handfuls, through half-a-dozen streets
down by the river."

"You don't really mean"----began Lilian, who could not even yet quite
command her voice.

"It's positively going about! I thought it my duty to come and tell you
at once. What is the foundation?"

"I warned you, Lily," said Denzil, good-humouredly. "The fact is, Mrs.
Wade, she gave half-a-crown to some old woman in Water Lane this
afternoon. It was imprudent, of course. Who told you about it?"

"Mr. Rook, the stationer. It was talked of up and down High Street, he
assures me. We may laugh, but this kind of misrepresentation goes a
long way."

"Let the blackguards make the most of it!" cried Quarrier. "I have as
good things in store for them. One of Jobson's workmen told me this
morning that he and his fellows were being distinctly intimidated;
Jobson has told them several times that if the Radicals won, work would
be scarce, and that the voters would have only themselves to thank for
it. And Thomas Barker has been promising lowered rents at Lady-day."

"But who _could_ have told such falsehoods about me?" asked Lilian.

"Some old woman who didn't get the half-crown, no doubt," replied Mrs.
Wade.

"Those poor creatures I went to see have no vote."

"Oh, but handfuls of money, you know! It's the impression made on the
neighbourhood. Seriously, they are driven to desperate resources; and I
believe there _is_ a good deal of intimidation going on--especially on
the part of district-visitors. Mrs. Alexander told me of several
instances. And the wives (of course) are such wretched cowards! That
great big carpenter, East, is under his wife's thumb, and she has been
imploring him not to vote Liberal for fear of consequences--she sits
weeping, and talking about the workhouse. Contemptible idiot! It would
gratify me extremely to see her really going to the workhouse."

"And pray," asked Denzil, with a laugh, "what would be the result of
giving the franchise to such women?"

"The result _might_ be that, in time to come, there wouldn't be so many
of them."

"In time to come--possibly. In the meanwhile, send their girls to
school to learn a wholesome contempt for their mothers."

"Oh, Denzil!