t his daughter had said to
him; Paul was not a man to be easily beaten, and that, unless some
extraordinary events took place, he, Mr. Bolitho, would not be able to
gain the victory. He discussed this matter long and seriously with Mr.
Wilson and his son Ned, and presently, when they were within a
fortnight of the polling day, he began to look serious indeed. It is
true Mary Bolitho had won many votes and had removed much of the
personal prejudice that had been created against him; nevertheless, he
saw that Paul had gripped the town in a way which he was unable to do,
and because the young man had entered into the life and thoughts of the
people, he was able to express their feelings in a way not possible to
him.

"It would be the bitterest blow of my life if I failed," he said to
young Ned Wilson and his father one night, on their return from one of
their meetings. "I should never dare to put my foot in Brunford again,
neither would Mary, if this young upstart got the better of us."

"Never fear!" said young Ned. "I'll promise you he shall not win this
election, Mr. Bolitho."

A little later Mr. Wilson was called away to see someone, and Ned and
Mr. Bolitho were left together.

"You speak with great certainty, Ned," said Mr. Bolitho, who had come
to address the young manufacturer with great freedom.

"I do," replied Ned. "Mr. Bolitho, I'm a plain man, may I say
something to you now?"

"Say what you will, my lad!"

"Well, then, I love your daughter, and I want to make her my wife.
Will you let me have her?"

"I don't know Mary's feelings about the matter," said Mr. Bolitho.

"But supposing you win this election, will you do your best for me?"
There was a kind of challenge in Ned's voice as he spoke.

"I'll promise not to oppose you, anyhow."

"No, that will not do," said Ned, and his voice became tremulous.
"Look here, this is a tremendous business to me. I want you to
understand that life, happiness, everything depends upon my being able
to win Mary. With her I feel I could do great things. I could go into
Parliament myself, ay, and make a name too. I'm not a fool, Mr.
Bolitho. There are but few men who know more about Lancashire life
than I do, I am intimately acquainted with every detail of Lancashire
business, and although I ought not to say it, since I've been made a
partner in our firm, I have more than doubled our income. I have a
great deal of power, Mr. Bolitho, too, more than you think