A great mistake. He had never meant to
countenance any personal attack on Ferrier or his leadership. Yet he
uncomfortably admitted that the meeting had told badly on the election.
In the view of one side, he had not had pluck enough to go to it; in the
view of the other, he had disgracefully connived at it.
* * * * *
The arrival of the evening post and papers did something to brush away
these dismal self-communings. Wonderful news from the counties! The
success of the latest batch of advanced candidates had been astonishing.
Other men, it seemed, had been free to liberate their souls! Well, now
the arbiter of the situation was Lord Philip, and there would certainly
be a strong advanced infusion in the new Ministry. Marsham considered
that he had as good claims as any of the younger men; and if it came to
another election in Brookshire, hateful as the prospect was, he should
be fighting in the open, and choosing his own weapons. No shirking! His
whole being gathered itself into a passionate determination to retaliate
upon the persons who had injured, thwarted, and calumniated him during
the contest just over.
Pages:
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535