Let those fellows, he thought, who imagine that the
popular party can be run without money, inform themselves, and not talk
like asses!
* * * * *
In the afternoon, during an exciting debate on a subject Marsham had
made to some extent his own, and in which he was expected to speak, two
letters were brought to him. One was from Diana. He put it into his
pocket, feeling an instinctive recoil--with his speech in sight--from
the emotion it must needs express and arouse. The other was from the
chairman of a Committee in Dunscombe, the chief town of his division.
The town was, so far, without any proper hall for public meetings. It
was proposed to build a new Liberal Club with a hall attached. The
leading local supporter of the scheme wrote--with apologies--to ask
Marsham what he was prepared to subscribe. It was early days to make the
inquiry, but--in confidence--he might state that he was afraid local
support for the scheme would mean more talk than money. Marsham pondered
the letter gloomily. A week earlier he would have gone to his mother for
a thousand pounds without any doubt of her reply.
It was just toward the close of the dinner-hour that Marsham caught the
Speaker's eye.
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