my voters should give me plumpers. If they divide their votes they can't
keep out Debarry, and they may help to keep out me. I feel some confidence in
asking you to use your influence in this direction, Mr Lyon. We candidates have
to praise ourselves more than is graceful; but you are aware that, while I
belong by my birth to the classes that have their roots in tradition and all the
old loyalties, my experience has lain chiefly among those who make their own
career, and depend on the new rather than the old. I have had the advantage of
considering national welfare under varied lights: I have wider views than those
of a mere cotton lord. On questions connected with religious liberty I would
stop short at no measure that was not thorough.«
    »I hope not, sir - I hope not,« said Mr Lyon, gravely; finally putting on
his spectacles and examining the face of the candidate, whom he was preparing to
turn into a catechumen. For the good Rufus, conscious of his political
importance as an organ of persuasion, felt it his duty to catechise a little,
and also to do his part towards impressing a probable legislator with a sense of
his responsibility. But the latter branch of duty somewhat obstructed the
catechising, for his mind was so urged by considerations which he held in danger
of being overlooked, that the questions and answers bore a very slender
proportion to his exposition. It was impossible to leave the question of
church-rates without noting the grounds of their injustice, and without a brief
enumeration of reasons why Mr Lyon, for his own part, would not present that
passive resistance to a legal imposition which had been adopted by the Friends
(whose heroism in this regard was nevertheless worthy of all honour).
    Comprehensive talkers are apt to be tiresome when we are not athirst for
information, but, to be quite fair, we must admit that superior reticence is a
good deal due to the lack of matter. Speech is often barren; but silence also
does not necessarily brood over a full nest. Your still fowl, blinking at you
without remark, may all the while be sitting on one addled nest-egg; and when it
takes to cackling, will have nothing to announce but that addled delusion.
    Harold Transome was not at all a patient man, but in matters of business he
was quite awake to his cue, and in this case it was perhaps easier to listen
than to answer questions. But Jermyn, who had plenty of work on his hands, took
an opportunity of rising, and saying, as