club in the evening, and no chance of a friend
dropping in for a chat. We've got to an age when we need some one to
talk to. I ain't going to say that a big house in the country isn't a
nice thing to have, and the gardens and that would be first-class. But
it's a big move, and it ain't to be decided about all in a hurry."

"Why, father, there's the shooting," Selina exclaimed. "You're fond of
that, and men will go anywhere for really good shooting, and make their
wives go, too. If you could get a place with plenty of it, and a
fox-covert or two on the estate, I'm perfectly certain we should be all
right."

Mr. Bullsom looked still a little doubtful.

"That's all very well," he said, "but I don't want to bribe people into
my house with shooting and good cooking, and nursing their blooming
foxes. That ain't my idea of making friends."

"It's only breaking the ice-just at first," Selina argued. "Afterwards
I'm sure you'd find them friendly enough."

"I tell you what I shall do," Mr. Bullsom said, deliberately; "I shall
consult the friend I've got coming to dinner to-night."

Selina smiled contemptuously.

"Pshaw!" she exclaimed. "What do any of them know about such things?"

"You don't know who it is," Mr. Bullsom replied, mysteriously.

The girls turned towards him almost simultaneously.

"Is it Mr. Brooks?"

Mr. Bullsom nodded. Selina flushed with pleasure and tried to look
unconscious.

"Only the day before yesterday," Mr. Bullsom said, "as chairman of the
committee, I had the pleasure of forwarding to Brooks a formal
invitation to become the parliamentary candidate for the borough. He
writes to me by return to say that he will be here this afternoon, as he
wishes to see me personally."

"I must say he hasn't lost much time," Louise remarked, smiling across
at Selina.

Mr. Bullsom grunted.

"I don't see how he could do much less," he said. "After all, though
every one admits that he's a clever young chap and uncommonly
conscientious, he's not well known generally, and he hasn't the position
in the town or anywhere which people generally look for in a
parliamentary candidate. I may tell you, girls, and you, mother, that
he was selected solely on my unqualified support and my casting vote."

"I hope," Mrs. Bullsom said, "that he will be properly grateful."

"I'm sure it's very good of you, pa," Selina declared, affably. She
liked the idea of Brooks owing so much to her father.

"There's no young m