The upshot of the Dublin meeting was that he also positively pledged himself to support during the next session of Parliament a bill advocating tenant-right.  “I am sorry you went so far as that,” Mr. Monk said to him almost as soon as the meeting was over.  They were standing on the pier at Kingstown, and Mr. Monk was preparing to return to England.

“And why not I as far as you?”

“Because I had thought about it, and I do not think that you have.  I am prepared to resign my office to-morrow; and directly that I can see Mr. Gresham and explain to him what I have done, I shall offer to do so.”

“He won’t accept your resignation.”

“He must accept it, unless he is prepared to instruct the Irish Secretary to bring in such a bill as I can support.”

“I shall be exactly in the same boat.”

“But you ought not to be in the same boat;—­nor need you.  My advice to you is to say nothing about it till you get back to London, and then speak to Lord Cantrip.  Tell him that you will not say anything on the subject in the House, but that in the event of there being a division you hope to be allowed to vote as on an open question.  It may be that I shall get Gresham’s assent, and if so we shall be all right.  If I do not, and if they choose to make it a point with you, you must resign also.”

“Of course I shall,” said Phineas.

“But I do not think they will.  You have been too useful, and they will wish to avoid the weakness which comes to a ministry from changing its team.  Good-bye, my dear fellow; and remember this,—­my last word of advice to you is to stick by the ship.  I am quite sure it is a career which will suit you.  I did not begin it soon enough.”

Phineas was rather melancholy as he returned alone to Killaloe.  It was all very well to bid him stick to the ship, and he knew as well as any one could tell him how material the ship was to him; but there are circumstances in which a man cannot stick to his ship,—­cannot stick, at least, to this special Government ship.  He knew that whither Mr. Monk went, in this session, he must follow.  He had considerable hope that when Mr. Monk explained his purpose to the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister would feel himself obliged to give way.  In that case Phineas would not only be able to keep his office, but would have such an opportunity of making a speech in Parliament as circumstances had never yet given to him.  When he was again at home he said nothing to his father or to the Killaloeians as to the danger of his position.  Of what use would it be to make his mother and sisters miserable, or to incur the useless counsels of the doctor?  They seemed to think his speech at Dublin very fine, and were never tired of talking of what Mr. Monk and Phineas were going to do; but the idea had not come home to them that if Mr. Monk or Phineas chose to do anything on their own account, they must give up the places which they held under the Crown.