an be
made to work. Were it not that men get drilled into it by the force
of circumstances any government in this country would be impossible.
Were it not so, what should we come to? The Queen would find herself
justified in keeping in any set of Ministers who could get her
favour, and ambitious men would prevail without any support from the
country. The Queen must submit to dictation from some quarter."

"She must submit to advice, certainly."

"Don't cavil at a word when you know it to be true," said Barrington,
energetically. "The constitution of the country requires that she
should submit to dictation. Can it come safely from any other quarter
than that of a majority of the House of Commons?"

"I think not."

"We are all agreed about that. Not a single man in either House would
dare to deny it. And if it be so, what man in his senses can think
of running counter to the party which he believes to be right in its
general views? A man so burthened with scruples as to be unable to
act in this way should keep himself aloof from public life. Such a
one cannot serve the country in Parliament, though he may possibly do
so with pen and ink in his closet."

"I wonder then that you should have asked me to come forward again
after what I did about the Irish land question," said Phineas.

"A first fault may be forgiven when the sinner has in other respects
been useful. The long and the short of it is that you must vote
with us against Daubeny's bill. Browborough sees it plainly enough.
He supported his chief in the teeth of all his protestations at
Tankerville."

"I am not Browborough."

"Nor half so good a man if you desert us," said Barrington Erle, with
anger.

"I say nothing about that. He has his ideas of duty, and I have mine.
But I will go so far as this. I have not yet made up my mind. I shall
ask advice; but you must not quarrel with me if I say that I must
seek it from some one who is less distinctly a partisan than you
are."

"From Monk?"

"Yes;--from Mr. Monk. I do think it will be bad for the country that
this measure should come from the hands of Mr. Daubeny."

"Then why the d---- should you support it, and oppose your own party
at the same time? After that you can't do it. Well, Ratler, my guide
and philosopher, how is it going to be?"

Mr. Ratler had joined them, but was still standing before the seat
they occupied, not condescending to sit down in amicable intercourse
with a man as to whom he