te (with due acknowledgments) to any extent I pleased, I sat down
with Champion and Robin, faint yet pursuing, to fortify myself with
roast-beef and whisky for the labours of the evening.

Presently Kitty entered, with Dolly.

"_Who_ do you think has just arrived?" she said.

"I don't know. Not a deputation, I hope!"

"No. Gerald--from school."

"Great Scott! Expelled?"

"Oh no. It's his half-term _exeat_. I had forgotten all about it. As it
just falls in with the Election, he has come to see you through, he
says."

"Right! Give him some food and a bed, and we'll send him round with one
of the brakes to-morrow, to bring people up to the poll. He has a gentle
compelling way about him that should be useful to us. Has he brought his
inarticulate friend?"

"Yes."

"Well, tell them to ask at the office for bedrooms."

"They have done that already," said Dolly. "They are down in the kitchen
now, ordering dinner. They don't propose to go to the meeting. 'Better
fun outside,' they say."

"Lucky little devils!" remarked the Candidate, with feeling.

"And, Adrian," said Kitty, "I don't think I'll come either. I'm rather
bothered about Philly."

I laid down my knife and fork.

"What do you mean? Is she really ill?"

"N-no. I don't think so, but she is very feverish and wretched, poor
kiddy. I tried to get hold of Dr Martin this afternoon, but he was miles
away on an urgent case, and won't be back till to-morrow. But I got Dr
Farquharson----"

"Roaring Radical!" said I in horror-struck tones.

--"Yes, dear, but such a nice old thing; and Scotch too, Robin----"

"Aberdonian," said Robin dubiously.

"Well," continued my wife, "he said she would need care, and must stay
in bed. He was in a tearing hurry, as he had to go on to one of
Stridge's meetings--horrid creature!--but he promised to come again on
his way home. Do you think it very important that I should come with
you?"

I turned to my secretary.

"What's your opinion, Robin?"

"I think Mrs Inglethwaite should come. They like to see her on the
platform, I know."

"If the Candidate's wife does not appear, people say she is too grand
for them," put in Champion.

"I'll stay with Philly, Kit," said Dolly.

"Will you? You dear! But I know you want to come yourself."

"Never mind. It doesn't matter."

And so it was arranged.

We found the theatre packed to suffocation. A heated band of musicians
(whose degrees must have been conferred _honoris ca