ngs with the world--things
repugnant alike to his feelings and his principles, but which he had
still to endure, not having risen high enough to oppose, single-handed,
the great mass of social corruption which at this crisis of English
history kept gathering and gathering, until out of the very horror and
loathsomeness of it an outcry for purification arose.

"Do you know, Phineas, I might last week have sold your houses for
double price? They are valuable, this election year, since your five
tenants are the only voters in Kingswell who are not likewise tenants
of Lord Luxmore. Don't you see how the matter stands?"

It was not difficult, for that sort of game was played all over
England, connived at, or at least winked at, by those who had political
influence to sell or obtain, until the Reform Bill opened up the
election system in all its rottenness and enormity.

"Of course I knew you would not sell your houses; and I shall use every
possible influence I have to prevent your tenants selling their votes.
Whatever may be the consequence, the sort of thing that this Kingswell
election bids fair to be, is what any honest Englishman ought to set
his face against, and prevent if he can."

"Can you?"

"I do not feel sure, but I mean to try. First, for simple right and
conscience; secondly, because if Mr. Vermilye is not saved from arrest
by being placed in Parliament, he will be outlawed and driven safe out
of the country. You see?"

Ay, I did, only too well. Though I foresaw that whatever John was
about to do, it must necessarily be something that would run directly
counter to Lord Luxmore--and he had only just signed the lease of
Enderley Mills. Still, if right to be done, he ought to do it at all
risks, at all costs; and I knew his wife would say so.

We came to the foot of Kingswell Hill, and saw the little hamlet--with
its grey old houses, its small, ancient church, guarded by enormous
yew-trees, and clothed with ivy that indicated centuries of growth.

A carriage overtook us here; in it were two gentlemen, one of whom
bowed in a friendly manner to John. He returned it.

"This is well; I shall have one honest gentleman to deal with to-day."

"Who is he?"

"Sir Ralph Oldtower, from whom I bought Longfield. An excellent man--I
like him--even his fine old Norman face, like one of his knightly
ancestors on the tomb in Kingswell church. There's something pleasant
about his stiff courtesy and his staunch