perhaps be allowed to adjourn for
the present. He was thinking how nice it would be to have a glass
of hot brandy-and-water and then lounge till dinner-time. But the
philosophers received the proposition with stern disdain. Was his
Lordship aware that Mr. Carbottle had been out all day from eight
in the morning, and was still at work; that the Carbottleites had
already sent for lanterns and were determined to go on till eight
o'clock among the artisans who would then have returned from their
work? When a man had put his hand to the plough, the philosophers
thought that that man should complete the furrow!

The philosophers' view had just carried the day, the discussion
having been held under seven or eight wet umbrellas at the corner
of a dirty little lane leading into the High Street; when suddenly,
on the other side of the way, Mr. Carbottle's cortege made its
appearance. The philosophers at once informed them that on such
occasions it was customary that the rival candidates should be
introduced. "It will take ten minutes," said the philosophers; "but
then it will take them ten minutes too." Upon this Tregear, as being
the younger of the two, crossed over the road, and the introduction
was made.

There was something comfortable in it to the Tregear party, as no
imagination could conceive anything more wretched than the appearance
of Mr. Carbottle. He was a very stout man of sixty, and seemed to be
almost carried along by his companions. He had pulled his coat-collar
up and his hat down till very little of his face was visible, and in
attempting to look at Tregear and Silverbridge he had to lift up his
chin till the rain ran off his hat on to his nose. He had an umbrella
in one hand and a stick in the other, and was wet through to his very
skin. What were his own feelings cannot be told, but his
philosophers, guides, and friends would allow him no rest. "Very hard
work, Mr. Tregear," he said, shaking his head.

"Very hard indeed, Mr. Carbottle." Then the two parties went on, each
their own way, without another word.

CHAPTER LVI

The News Is Sent to Matching

There were nine days of this work, during which Lord Silverbridge
became very popular and made many speeches. Tregear did not win half
so many hearts, or recommend himself so thoroughly to the political
predilections of the borough;--but nevertheless he was returned. It
would probably be unjust to attribute this success chiefly to the
young Lord'