h him.

"From all I can learn," said the baronet, "we ought to win the seat; and
every two new votes won in that way are worth half-a-dozen such as Tom
Willoughby's, for instance, whose loyalty is a stale and discounted
fact."

"Oh, yes, I know that is how you regard us buttresses from the counties!
I declare I will be a fifth party, and play for my own hand."

"It isn't in you, my boy," said Lord Ambermere; "I never knew you play
for your own hand yet."

"Then what am I in Parliament for, I should like to know?"

"For that very thing, of course; to learn how to do it." Willoughby
laughed good-naturedly. He did not object to be made a butt of by his
intimate friends.

"Seriously, Tom, there is plenty of work for a fellow like you to do."

It was Pynsent who spoke, and the others were always ready to lend him
their ears when he evidently wanted to be listened to.

"The main thing is to get hold of the Whigs, and work at them quietly
and steadily until the time comes to strike our blow. The great Houses
are safe, almost to a man. When it comes to choosing between Democracy
rampant, with Gladstone at its head, assailing the most sacred elements
of the Constitution, and a great National Party, or Union of Parties,
guarding Property and the Empire against attack, there is no question as
to how they will make their choice. But if every Whig by birth or family
ties came over to us at once, that would not suffice for our purpose.
What we have to do is get at the--the Decent Men of the Liberal
Party, such as the aldermen, the shipowners, the great contractors and
directors of companies, and, of course, the men with a stake in the
land. No use mentioning names--we all know pretty well who they are."

"And when you have got at them?" asked Willoughby.

"Why, lay yourself out to please them. Flatter them--show them all the
attention in your power; take care that they see and hear what is
thought in the highest quarters about the present tendency of
things--about Ireland, about the Empire, about the G. O. M. Let them
understand how they are counted on to decide the issue, and what they
would have to look for if we were once in power. Above all, ride them
easy! It is impossible that they should become Tories--don't dream of
such a thing. They are to be Liberals to the end of their days, but
Liberals with an Epithet."

"Imperi----"

"No, no, no, no, my dear boy! Any number of noes. You must not live so
much in the past.