ffer him to
be put out. The father besides voted for him, and always had voted for
the family. "Do what you please with the son," he proceeded--"get rid of
him as you like, but I shan't suffer the father to be removed. Let him
have the farm upon reasonable terms; and, by the way, Fethertonge, don't
you think now it was rather an independent act of the young fellow to
vote for Vanston, although he knew that I had it in my power to send him
about his business?"

"It was about as impudent a piece of gratitude and defiance as ever I
witnessed," returned the other. "The wily rascal calculated upon your
forbearance and easiness of disposition, and so imagined that he might
do what he pleased with impunity. We shall undeceive him, however."

"Well, but you forget that he, had some cause of displeasure against us,
in consequence of having neglected his memorial to the Commissioners of
Excise."

"Yes; but as I said before, how could we with credit involve ourselves
in the illegal villany of a smuggler? It is actually a discredit to have
such a fellow upon the estate. He is, in the first place, a bad
example, and calculated by his conduct and influence to spread dangerous
principles among the tenantry. However, as it is, he is, fortunately for
us, rather well known at present. It is now perfectly notorious--and I
have it from the best authority--one of the parties who was cognizant
of his conduct--that his vote against you was the result of a deliberate
compact with our enemy, Vanston, and that he received a bribe of fifty
pounds from him. This he has had the audacity to acknowledge himself,
being the very amount of the sum to which the penalty against him was
mitigated by Vanston's interference. In fact the scoundrel is already
infamous in the country."

"What, for receiving a bribe!" exclaimed Chevydale, looking at the agent
with a significant smile; "and what, pray, is the distinction between
him who gives and him who takes a bribe? Let us look at home a little,
my good Fethertonge, and learn a little charity to those who err as we
do. A man would think now to hear you attack M'Mahon for bribery, that
you never had bribed a man in your life; and yet you know that it is
the consciousness of bribery on our own part that prevents us from
attempting to unseat Vanston."

"That's all very true, I grant you," replied the other; "but in the
mean time we must keep up appearances. The question, so far as regards
M'Mahon, is--not s