by wearing them.«
    Esther rose to leave the room.
    »Must you really go?« said Harold, preparing to open the door for her.
    »Yes; I have an engagement - a lesson at half-past twelve,« said Esther,
bowing and floating out like a blue-robed Naïad, but not without a suffused
blush as she passed through the doorway.
    It was a pity the room was so small, Harold Transome thought: this girl
ought to walk in a house where there were halls and corridors. But he had soon
dismissed this chance preoccupation with Esther; for before the door was closed
again Mr Lyon had entered, and Harold was entirely bent on what had been the
object of his visit. The minister, though no elector himself, had considerable
influence over Liberal electors, and it was the part of wisdom in a candidate to
cement all political adhesion by a little personal regard, if possible. Garstin
was a harsh and wiry fellow; he seemed to suggest that sour whey, which some say
was the original meaning of Whig in the Scottish, and it might assist the
theoretic advantages of Radicalism if it could be associated with a more
generous presence. What would conciliate the personal regard of old Mr Lyon
became a curious problem to Harold, now the little man made his appearance. But
canvassing makes a gentleman acquainted with many strange animals, together with
the ways of catching and taming them; and thus the knowledge of natural history
advances amongst the aristocracy and the wealthy commoners of our land.
    »I am very glad to have secured this opportunity of making your personal
acquaintance, Mr Lyon,« said Harold, putting out his hand to the minister when
Jermyn had mentioned his name. »I am to address the electors here, in the
Market-Place, to-morrow; and I should have been sorry to do so without first
paying my respects privately to my chief friends, as there may be points on
which they particularly wish me to explain myself.«
    »You speak civilly, sir, and reasonably,« said Mr Lyon, with a vague
shortsighted gaze, in which a candidate's appearance evidently went for nothing.
»Pray be seated, gentlemen. It is my habit to stand.«
    He placed himself at right angle with his visitors, his worn look of
intellectual eagerness, slight frame, and rusty attire, making an odd contrast
with their flourishing persons, unblemished costume, and comfortable freedom
from excitement. The group was fairly typical of the difference between the men
who are animated by ideas and the men who are expected to apply