Part 43 (1/2)
”And how is it going to go?”
The Chief Justice lowered his voice.
”Medland will be beaten. He can't believe it and his friends won't, but he'll be beaten badly all over the country, except here in Kirton.
Kirton he'll carry pretty solid, but that won't be enough.”
”How many seats are there here?”
”Oh, here and in this district, which is under Kirton influence, about two-and-twenty, and he ought to get eighteen or nineteen of them; but what's that out of eighty members?”
”And what's the reason? Merely his policy or----?”
”Well, his policy a good deal. All the manufacturers and capitalists are straining every nerve to give him such a thras.h.i.+ng as will keep him out for years, and they spare neither time nor money nor hard words. I don't blame 'em. And then, of course, the other thing counts. It hits him where he was strong--among the religious folk. Puttock's their special man, and Puttock never lets it alone.”
”What, do they talk about it in public?”
”Well, I should rather think they did. Oh, we fight with the gloves off in New Lindsey.”
”After all, if it's a matter that ought to count, it ought to be talked about,” remarked Miss Scaife thoughtfully.
”I suppose so,” answered Sir John doubtfully; ”only it always sounds a little mean, you know.”
Eleanor did not attempt to reconcile this seeming contradiction.
”So Sir Robert will be back? Well, Mary will be delighted.”
”It doesn't so much matter to her, as you're going.”
”No, but she will. For my own part, I like Sir Robert, but his Government rather lacks variety, doesn't it? It's not exactly thrilling.”
”That's very high praise.”
”I hardly meant it to be,” laughed Eleanor. ”However, as you say, it doesn't matter much now to us.”
”No, nor to me.”
”Then it's true you're resigning?”
”Yes, in a few weeks. I'm just holding on to----”
”See this crisis through, I suppose?”
”Oh dear, no. The crisis, as you call it, Miss Scaife, don't matter to me--nor I to it. I'm holding on to complete another year's service and get fifty pound more pension.”
”You're very practical, Sir John.”
”High praise again!”
”Perhaps hardly meant again!”
”I'm sure Lady Eynesford teaches her household the value of practicality.”