And then – the sort of people who will support you! You really have no idea what an impression it conveys when you say you are a Radical. There are none of our equals who will not feel that you have disgraced yourself.«

»Pooh!« said Harold, rising and walking along the room.

But Mrs Transome went on with growing anger in her voice – »It seems to me that a man owes something to his birth and station, and has no right to take up this notion or the other, just as it suits his fancy; still less to work at the overthrow of his class. That was what everyone said of Lord Grey, and my family at least is as good as Lord Grey's. You have wealth now, and might distinguish yourself in the county; and if you had been true to your colours as a gentleman, you would have had all the greater opportunity because the times are so bad. The Debarrys and Lord Wyvern would have set all the more store by you. For my part, I can't conceive what good you propose to yourself. I only entreat you to think again before you take any decided step.«

»Mother,« said Harold, not angrily or with any raising of his voice, but in a quick, impatient manner, as if the scene must be got through as quickly as possible; »it is natural that you should think in this way. Women, very properly, don't change their views, but keep to the notions in which they have been brought up. It doesn't signify what they think – they are not called upon to judge or to act. You must really leave me to take my own course in these matters, which properly belong to men. Beyond that, I will gratify any wish you choose to mention. You shall have a new carriage and a pair of bays all to yourself; you shall have the house done up in first-rate style, and I am not thinking of marrying. But let us understand that there shall be no further collision between us on subjects in which I must be master of my own actions.«

»And you will put the crown to the mortifications of my life, Harold. I don't know who would be a mother if she could foresee what a slight thing she will be to her son when she is old.«

Mrs Transome here walked out of the room by the nearest way – the glass door open towards the terrace. Mr Jermyn had risen too, and his hands were on the back of his chair. He looked quite impassive: it was not the first time he had seen Mrs Transome angry; but now, for the first time, he thought the outburst of her temper would be useful for him. She, poor woman, knew quite well that she had been unwise, and that she had been making herself disagreeable to Harold to no purpose. But half the sorrows of women would be averted if they could repress the speech they know to be useless; nay, the speech they have resolved not to utter. Harold continued his walking a moment longer, and then said to Jermyn –

»You smoke?«

»No, I always defer to the ladies. Mrs Jermyn is peculiarly sensitive on such matters, and doesn't like tobacco.«

Harold, who, underneath all the tendencies which had made him a Liberal, had intense personal pride, thought, »Confound the fellow – with his Mrs Jermyn! Does he think we are on a footing for me to know anything about his wife?«

»Well, I took my hookah before breakfast,« he said aloud; »so, if you like, we'll go into the library. My father never gets up till mid-day, I find.«

»Sit down, sit down,« said Harold, as they entered the handsome, spacious library. But he himself continued to stand before a map of the county which he had opened from a series of rollers occupying a compartment among the bookshelves. »The first question, Mr Jermyn, now you know my intentions, is, whether you will undertake to be my agent in this election, and help me through? There's no time to be lost, and I don't want to lose my chance, as I may not have another for seven years. I understand,« he went on, flashing a look straight at Jermyn, »that you have not taken any conspicuous course in politics; and I know that Labron is agent for the Debarrys.«

»O – a – my dear sir – a man necessarily has his political convictions, but of what use is it for a professional man – a – of some education, to talk of them in a little country town? There really is no comprehension of public questions in such places. Party feeling, indeed, was quite asleep here before the agitation about the Catholic Relief Bill. It is true that I concurred with our incumbent in getting up a petition against the Reform Bill, but I did not state my reasons. The weak points in that Bill are – a – too palpable, and I fancy you and I should not differ much on that head. The fact is, when I knew that you were to come back to us, I kept myself in reserve, though I was much pressed by the friends of Sir James Clement, the Ministerial candidate, who is –«

»However, you will act for me – that's settled?« said Harold.

»Certainly,« said Jermyn, inwardly irritated by Harold's rapid manner of cutting him short.

»Which of the Liberal candidates, as they call themselves, has the better chance, eh?«

»I was going to observe that Sir James Clement has not so good a chance as Mr Garstin, supposing that a third Liberal candidate presents himself. There are two senses in which a politician can be liberal« – here Mr Jermyn smiled – »Sir James Clement is a poor baronet, hoping for an appointment, and can't be expected to be liberal in that wider sense which commands majorities.«

»I wish this man were not so much of a talker,« thought Harold; »he'll bore me. We shall see,« he said aloud, »what can be done in the way of combination.