There was no use trying to hasten the old man, and his auditors were too familiar with his peculiarities not to give him his own time.  This was food and drink to his present craving, which during all these years he had found so little opportunity to indulge.  The successes which he had enjoyed were won by those for whom and with whom he labored.  Here was the hope of a triumph, on the part of one of his own flesh and blood, which must reflect its brilliancy upon himself.  Suppose Jimmie should some day become an alderman!  No wonder that the old man lingered in his narrative!

“Ye see, ma’m,” Riley continued, “Jimmie is th’ man th’ big fellers give th’ money at ‘lection time, an’ it’s all lift ter him where he puts it.  All that responsibility is his, ma’m, an’ that makes him quite a feller hisself.  Th’ other men in th’ ward sorter looks up ter him, ma’m.  An’ thin agin, Jimmie is th’ fine speaker an’ quick wid his thinkers, ma’m.  That’s why I think he’ll be th’ great man soon.”

“It’s a fine thing to be given responsibility, Riley, and it’s a great thing to be trusted,” Eleanor humored him; “but it is even more valuable to be a fine speaker and quick with one’s ‘thinkers.’  Has James had much opportunity to show his ability as an orator?”

“He has, ma’m, as I was just a-goin’ ter tell ye.  Jimmie come near makin’ a mistake two years ago.  Th’ Republicans offered him more money ter come over ter their side an’ Jimmie done it.  Thin, later, he seen his mistake an’ th’ Dimocrats seen theirs, an’ Jimmie come back ter his old roost.  Some iv thim who didn’t know the true innards iv th’ situation blamed Jimmie, an’ at a meetin’ th’ Dimocrats held—­crocus, I think he called it—­some iv them started ter hiss Jimmie when he begun ter spake.  Th’ man at th’ desk, whatever title he has, thried ter stop ’em, but Jimmie was quicker than any iv ’em.  He jumps up on a chair, Jimmie does, an’ waves his arms theatrical like, an’ cries out good an’ sthrong, ’Don’t mind ’em, Misther Moderator (that’s what they call that feller at th’ desk), don’t mind ’em, Misther Moderator—­as another gintleman wance said, they know not what they do.’”

“Did James know who the ‘other gentleman’ was?” asked Mrs. Gorham, with difficulty suppressing a laugh.

“He may have, ma’m, but I’m not sure,” Riley replied, honestly.  “Me an’ th’ ol’ woman allus thried ter bring Jimmie up wid a knowledge iv th’ Scripters, an’ I’m hopin’ he did know; but I ain’t shure, ma’m.”

As Riley disappeared into the house Eleanor rose and, drawing Alice’s arm through her own, the two resumed their leisurely stroll about the garden.

“I wonder if Riley has forgiven me for marrying your father,” Eleanor queried, laughingly.  “He looks upon ‘Mr. Robert’ as his personal property, and I really believe he has always resented my presence as an intrusion.”

“Pat is the only one who can make him stand around,” Alice admitted; “but, seriously, I think he looks upon you as a real addition to the family.  That’s a proud position for you to have attained in four years.”