were coming out or I'd have just stepped into your room." Into
his very bed-room! Sir Thomas shuddered as he heard the proposition.
"We've a telegram from Griffenbottom," continued Trigger, "and he
won't be here till noon. We can't begin till he comes."

"Ah;--then I can just write a few letters," said Sir Thomas.

"I wouldn't mind letters now if I was you. If you don't mind, we'll
go and look up the parsons. There are four or five of 'em, and they
like to be seen;--not in the way of canvassing. They're all right, of
course. And there's two of 'em won't leave a stone unturned in the
outside hamlets. But they like to be seen, and their wives like it."
Whereupon Mr. Trigger ordered breakfast,--and eat it. Sir Thomas
reminded himself that a fortnight was after all but a short duration
of time. He might live through a fortnight,--probably,--and then when
Mr. Griffenbottom came it would be shared between two.

At noon he returned to the Percy Standard, very tired, there to await
the coming of Mr. Griffenbottom. Mr. Griffenbottom didn't come till
three, and then bustled up into the sitting-room, which Sir Thomas
had thought was his own, as though all Percycross belonged to
him. During the last three hours supporters had been in and out
continually, and Mr. Pabsby had made an ineffectual attempt or two to
catch Sir Thomas alone. Trigger had been going up and down between
the Standard and the station. Various men, friends and supporters
of Griffenbottom and Underwood, had been brought to him. Who were
paid agents, who were wealthy townsmen, who were canvassers and
messengers, he did not know. There were bottles on the sideboard the
whole time. Sir Thomas, in a speculative manner, endeavouring to
realise to himself the individuality of this and that stranger, could
only conceive that they who helped themselves were wealthy townsmen,
and that they who waited till they were asked by others were paid
canvassers and agents. But he knew nothing, and could only wish
himself back in Southampton Buildings.

At last Mr. Griffenbottom, followed by a cloud of supporters, bustled
into the room. Trigger at once introduced the two candidates. "Very
glad to meet you," said Griffenbottom. "So we're going to fight
this little battle together. I remember you in the House, you know,
and I dare say you remember me. I'm used to this kind of thing. I
suppose you ain't. Well, Trigger, how are things looking? I suppose
we'd better begin down Pump