“But you yourself and grandfather have been saying all along that he—­” began Harlan.

“We say a lot of things in politics,” broke in the chairman, testily.  “But it’s only the final round-up that counts.  And be prepared for sudden changes, as the almanac says!  I tell you, I don’t know anything about this Spinney rumor—­nor I don’t care.  But it’s probably true.  Everett has got pledged delegates enough to nominate him by acclamation.”

“But last night—­” persisted Harlan.

His grandfather interrupted this time.

“Don’t you remember that old Brad Dunham wrote to New York one spring and asked a commission man if he would take a million frogs’ legs?  Commission man wrote that he’d take a hundred pairs; and the best old Brad could do, after wading in the swamp back of his house all day, was to get a dozen.  Wrote to the commission man that he’d been estimating his frogs by sound and thought he had a million.  That’s been the way with Spinney and his delegates, Harlan.”

Mrs. Presson took advantage of the merriment to change the subject from politics.  It was a topic that did not interest her, and she had learned from her husband’s disgusted growlings that morning that there had been trouble the night before.

Harlan did not join in the chatter that went about the table.  Under cover of it his grandfather gave him a few words of compassionate counsel.

“You’ll have to swing in with the new deal, bub.  You can’t cut party sirloin too close to the horn, and that’s what Vard did.  He wants to sit on the mountain and slam us flat under a rock with the new ten commandments on it.  We can’t stand for it.  I didn’t dream that he had grown to be so impractical in his old age.  No one wants any such deal as he’s framing up for the State.  As I told you, he’s trying to build human nature over, and he can’t do it.  I’m sorry it’s turned as it has—­he could have been just a little diplomatic and made us a good Governor.  But Everett will make a good one—­you needn’t be afraid of him.  We’ll put through a few measures that will smooth things down a little.  Now you’ve got to remember that you’re going to the legislature.  You might just as well not be there if you don’t stand clever with the administration.  I haven’t put you in just as I intended.  But get into line now, quick.  I can smooth it all right for you.  I’ve squared myself with Everett—­he needed me!”

Harlan listened patiently, keeping his eyes on his food.

“Right after breakfast Luke is going to have a talk with you and Linton.”

“It will do Mr. Presson no good to talk to me.  I’m with General Waymouth.”

“But General Waymouth has been eliminated, you young idiot.  It was the combination of circumstances that made him a candidate.  But those circumstances have been changed.  I can’t explain to you how, Harlan—­not here and now.  But a brand-new trump has been turned.  It had to be done.  You stay behind here with Linton and talk with Luke.”