sionally he forgot to speak, or to
listen, in the intensity of his preoccupation; and at such moments his
countenance darkened.

On the whole, however, he seemed in better spirits than of wont.
Quarrier was in the habit of seeing him perhaps once a month, and it
was long since he had heard the connoisseur discourse so freely, so
unconcernedly. As soon as they were seated at table, Denzil began to
talk of politics.

"If my brother-in-law really stands for Polterham," he exclaimed, "we
must set you canvassing among the mill-hands, Glazzard!"

"H'm!--not impossible."

"As much as to say," remarked the other to Lilian, "that he would see
them all consumed in furnaces before he stretched forth a hand to save
them."

"I know very well how to understand Denzil's exaggerations," said
Lilian, with a smile to her guest.

"He thinks," was Glazzard's reply, "that I am something worse than a
high Tory. It's quite a mistake, and I don't know how his belief
originated."

"My dear fellow, you are so naturally a Tory that you never troubled to
think to what party you belong. And I can understand you well enough; I
have leanings that way myself. Still, when I get down to Polterham I
shall call myself a Radical. What sensible man swears by a party?
There's more foolery and dishonesty than enough on both sides, when you
come to party quarrelling; but as for the broad principles concerned,
why, Radicalism of course means justice. I put it in this way: If _I_
were a poor devil, half starved and overworked, I should be a savage
Radical; so I'll go in for helping the poor devils."

"You don't always act on that principle, Denzil," said Lilian, with a
rallying smile. "Not, for instance, when beggars are concerned."

"Beggars! Would you have me support trading impostors? As for the
genuine cases--why, if I found myself penniless in the streets, I would
make such a row that all the country should hear of it! Do you think I
would go whining to individuals? If I hadn't food, it would be the duty
of society to provide me with it--and I would take good care that I
_was_ provided; whether in workhouse or gaol wouldn't matter much. At
all events, the business should be managed with the maximum of noise."

He emptied his wine-glass, and went on in the same vigorous tone.

"We know very well that there are no such things as natural rights.
Nature gives no rights; she will produce an infinite number of
creatures only to torture and eventuall