ad.

"I thought it would be so!--I doubt if there is a voter in all
Kingswell who has not got a bribe."

"It is the same everywhere," I said. "What can one man do against it,
single-handed?"

"Single-handed or not, every man ought to do what he can. And no man
knows how much he can do till he tries."

So saying, he went into the large parlour of the Luxmore Arms, where
the election was going on.

A very simple thing, that election! Sir Ralph Oldtower, who was
sheriff, sat at a table, with his son, the grave-looking young man who
had been with him in the carriage; near them were Mr. Brithwood of the
Mythe, and the Earl of Luxmore.

The room was pretty well filled with farmers' labourers and the like.
We entered, making little noise; but John's head was taller than most
heads present; the sheriff saw him at once, and bowed courteously. So
did young Mr. Herbert Oldtower, so did the Earl of Luxmore. Richard
Brithwood alone took no notice, but turned his back and looked another
way.

It was now many years since I had seen the 'squire, Lady Caroline's
husband. He had fulfilled the promise of his youth, and grown into a
bloated, coarse-featured, middle-aged man; such a man as one rarely
meets with now-a-days; for even I, Phineas Fletcher, have lived to see
so great a change in manners and morals, that intemperance, instead of
being the usual characteristic of "a gentleman," has become a rare
failing--a universally-contemned disgrace.

"Less noise there!" growled Mr. Brithwood. "Silence, you fellows at
the door! Now, Sir Ralph, let's get the business over, and be back for
dinner."

Sir Ralph turned his stately grey head to the light, put on his gold
spectacles, and began to read the writ of election. As he finished,
the small audience set up a feeble cheer.

The sheriff acknowledged it, then leaned over the table talking with
rather frosty civility to Lord Luxmore. Their acquaintance seemed
solely that of business. People whispered that Sir Ralph never forgot
that the Oldtowers were Crusaders when the Ravenels were--nobody. Also
the baronet, whose ancestors were all honourable men and stainless
women, found it hard to overlook a certain royal bar-sinister, which
had originated the Luxmore earldom, together with a few other blots
which had tarnished that scutcheon since. So folk said; but probably
Sir Ralph's high principle was at least as strong as his pride, and
that the real cause of his dislike was f