young barrister, whatever it might do for one thoroughly established in his profession; that Phineas, if successful at Loughshane, would at once abandon all idea of earning any income,—­that the proposition, coming from so poor a man, was a monstrosity,—­that such an opposition to the Morris family, coming from a son of his, would be gross ingratitude to Lord Tulla.  Mrs. Finn and the girls talked him down, and the doctor himself was almost carried away by something like vanity in regard to his son’s future position.

Nevertheless he wrote a letter strongly advising Phineas to abandon the project.  But he himself was aware that the letter which he wrote was not one from which any success could be expected.  He advised his son, but did not command him.  He made no threats as to stopping his income.  He did not tell Phineas, in so many words, that he was proposing to make an ass of himself.  He argued very prudently against the plan, and Phineas, when he received his father’s letter, of course felt that it was tantamount to a paternal permission to proceed with the matter.  On the next day he got a letter from his mother full of affection, full of pride,—­not exactly telling him to stand for Loughshane by all means, for Mrs. Finn was not the woman to run openly counter to her husband in any advice given by her to their son,—­but giving him every encouragement which motherly affection and motherly pride could bestow.  “Of course you will come to us,” she said, “if you do make up your mind to be member for Loughshane.  We shall all of us be so delighted to have you!” Phineas, who had fallen into a sea of doubt after writing to his father, and who had demanded a week from Barrington Erle to consider the matter, was elated to positive certainty by the joint effect of the two letters from home.  He understood it all.  His mother and sisters were altogether in favour of his audacity, and even his father was not disposed to quarrel with him on the subject.

“I shall take you at your word,” he said to Barrington Erle at the club that evening.

“What word?” said Erle, who had too many irons in the fire to be thinking always of Loughshane and Phineas Finn,—­or who at any rate did not choose to let his anxiety on the subject be seen.

“About Loughshane.”

“All right, old fellow; we shall be sure to carry you through.  The Irish writs will be out on the third of March, and the sooner you’re there the better.”

CHAPTER II

Phineas Finn Is Elected for Loughshane

One great difficulty about the borough vanished in a very wonderful way at the first touch.  Dr. Finn, who was a man stout at heart, and by no means afraid of his great friends, drove himself over to Castlemorris to tell his news to the Earl, as soon as he got a second letter from his son declaring his intention of proceeding with the business, let the results be what they might.  Lord Tulla was a