sin, and bounties unrighteously dispensed - not
sufficiently dispersed. He said by-and-by to pleasure, battle to-day. From his
point of observation, and with the store of ideas and images his fiery yet
reflective youth had gathered, he presented himself as it were saddled to that
hard-riding force known as the logical impetus, which spying its quarry over
precipices, across oceans and deserts, and through systems and webs, and into
shops and cabinets of costliest china, will come at it, will not be refused, let
the distances and the breakages be what they may. He went like the meteoric man
with the mechanical legs in the song, too quick for a cry of protestation, and
reached results amazing to his instincts, his tastes, and his training, not less
rapidly and naturally than tremendous Ergo is shot forth from the clash of a
syllogism.
 

                                  Chapter XVI

                 A Partial Display of Beauchamp in His Colours

Beauchamp presented himself at Mount Laurels next day, and formally asked
Colonel Halkett for his vote, in the presence of Cecilia.
    She took it for a playful glance at his new profession of politician: he
spoke half-playfully. Was it possible to speak in earnest?
    »I 'm of the opposite party,« said the colonel; as conclusive a reply as
could be: but he at once fell upon the rotten navy of a Liberal Government. How
could a true sailor think of joining those Liberals! The question referred to
the country, not to a section of it, Beauchamp protested with impending
emphasis: Tories and Liberals were much the same in regard to the care of the
navy. »Nevil!« exclaimed Cecilia. He cited beneficial Liberal bills recently
passed, which she accepted for a concession of the navy to the Tories, and she
smiled. In spite of her dislike of politics, she had only to listen a few
minutes to be drawn into the contest: and thus it is that one hot politician
makes many among women and men of a people that have the genius of strife, or
else in this case the young lady did unconsciously feel a deep interest in
refuting and overcoming Nevil Beauchamp. Colonel Halkett denied the benefits of
those bills. »Look,« said he, »at the scarecrow plight of the army under a
Liberal Government!« This laid him open to the charge that he was for backing
Administrations instead of principles.
    »I do,« said the colonel. »I would rather have a good Administration than
all your talk of principles: one's a fact, but principles? principles?« He
languished