'Why not?' said Frank, whose mind was only just beginning to be enlightened by the great doctrine of purity of election as practised in English provincial towns.
'Oh, Closerstil had some fellow looking at me; why, I can't walk down that town without having my very steps counted. I like sharp fighting myself, but I never go so sharp as that.'
'Nevertheless, I got Bagley's vote,' said Frank, persisting in praise of his own electioneering prowess; 'and you may be sure of this, Mr. Nearthewinde, none of Closerstil's men were looking at me when I got it.'
'Who'll pay for the bonnets, Frank?' said George, whispering to him.
'Oh, I'll pay for them if Moffat won't. I think I shall keep an account there; they seem to have good gloves and those sort of things.'
'Very good, I have no doubt,' said George.
'I suppose your lordship will be in town soon after the meeting of parliament?' said the bishop, questioning the earl.
'Oh! yes; I suppose I must be there. I am never allowed to remain very long in quiet. It is a great nuisance; but it is too late to think of that now.'
'Men in high places, my lord, never were, and never will be, allowed to consider themselves. They burn their torches not in their own behalf,' said the bishop, thinking, perhaps, as much of himself as he did of his noble friend. 'Rest and quiet are the comforts of those who have been content to remain in obscurity.'
'Perhaps so,' said the earl, finishing his glass of claret with an air of virtuous resignation. 'Perhaps so.' His own martyrdom, however, had not been severe, for the rest and quiet of home had never been peculiarly satisfactory to his tastes. Soon after this they all went to the ladies.
It was some little time before Frank could find an opportunity of recommencing his allotted task with Miss Dunstable. She got into conversation with the bishop and some other people, and, except that he took her teacup and nearly managed to squeeze one of her fingers as he did so, he made very little further progress till towards the close of the evening.
At last he found her so nearly alone as to admit of his speaking to her in his low confidential voice.
'Have you managed that matter with my aunt?' said he.
'What matter?' said Miss Dunstable; and her voice was not low, nor particularly confidential.
'About those three or four gentlemen whom you wish her to invite here.'
'Oh! my attendant knights! no, indeed; you gave me such
