minutes, and then asked that
special question which should always come first on such occasions.
Would it cost any money? Well;--yes. The eager spirits of Percycross
thought that it would cost something. They were forced to admit that
Percycross was not one of those well-arranged boroughs in which the
expenses of an election are all defrayed by the public spirit of the
citizens. It soon became clear that the deputation had waited upon
Moggs, not only because Moggs was a good Radical, but because also
Moggs was supposed to be a Radical with a command of money. Ontario
frowned and expressed an opinion that all elections should be made
absolutely free to the candidates. "And everybody ought to go to
'eaven, Mr. Moggs," said the leading member of the deputation, "but
everybody don't, 'cause things ain't as they ought to be." There was
no answer to be made to this. Ontario could only strike his forehead
and think. It was clear to him that he could not give an affirmative
answer that night, and he therefore, with some difficulty, arranged
an adjournment of the meeting till the following afternoon at 2 P.M.
"We must go down by the 4.45 express to-morrow," said the leading
member of the deputation, who even by that arrangement would subject
himself to the loss of two days' wages,--for he was a foreman in the
establishment of Mr. Spicer the mustard-maker,--and whose allowance
for expenses would not admit of his sleeping away from home a second
night. Ontario departed, promising to be ready with his answer by 2
P.M. on the following day.

How bright with jewels was the crown now held before his eyes, and
yet how unapproachable, how far beyond his grasp! To be a member of
Parliament, to speak in that august assembly instead of wasting his
eloquence on the beery souls of those who frequented the Cheshire
Cheese, to be somebody in the land at his early age,--something so
infinitely superior to a maker of boots! A member of Parliament was
by law an esquire, and therefore a gentleman. Ralph Newton was not
a member of Parliament;--not half so great a fellow as a member of
Parliament. Surely if he were to go to Polly Neefit as a member of
Parliament Polly would reject him no longer! And to what might it not
lead? He had visions before his eyes of very beautiful moments in
his future life, in which, standing, as it were, on some well-chosen
rostrum in that great House, he would make the burning thoughts of
his mind, the soaring aspirati