ting, travelling; wants something new. I heard, through some of
the means of intelligence I employ, that not very long ago he was
wishing for a seat in Parliament."

"A Liberal?" said Mr Bradshaw.

"Decidedly. Belongs to a family who were in the Long Parliament in
their day."

Mr Bradshaw rubbed his hands.

"Dissenter?" asked he.

"No, no! Not so far as that. But very lax Church."

"What is his name?" asked Mr Bradshaw, eagerly.

"Excuse me. Until I am certain that he would like to come forward for
Eccleston, I think I had better not mention his name."

The anonymous gentleman did like to come forward, and his name proved
to be Donne. He and Mr Bradshaw had been in correspondence during
all the time of Mr Ralph Cranworth's illness; and when he died,
everything was arranged ready for a start, even before the Cranworths
had determined who should keep the seat warm till the eldest son came
of age, for the father was already member for the county. Mr Donne
was to come down to canvass in person, and was to take up his abode
at Mr Bradshaw's; and therefore it was that the seaside house, within
twenty miles' distance of Eccleston, was found to be so convenient
as an infirmary and nursery for those members of his family who
were likely to be useless, if not positive encumbrances, during the
forthcoming election.

CHAPTER XXII

The Liberal Candidate and His Precursor

Jemima did not know whether she wished to go to Abermouth or not.
She longed for change. She wearied of the sights and sounds of
home. But yet she could not bear to leave the neighbourhood of Mr
Farquhar; especially as, if she went to Abermouth, Ruth would in all
probability be left to take her holiday at home.

When Mr Bradshaw decided that she was to go, Ruth tried to feel glad
that he gave her the means of repairing her fault towards Elizabeth;
and she resolved to watch over the two girls most faithfully and
carefully, and to do all in her power to restore the invalid to
health. But a tremor came over her whenever she thought of leaving
Leonard; she had never quitted him for a day, and it seemed to her as
if her brooding, constant care was his natural and necessary shelter
from all evils--from very death itself. She would not go to sleep at
nights, in order to enjoy the blessed consciousness of having him
near her; when she was away from him teaching her pupils, she kept
trying to remember his face, and print it deep on her heart, against