Polwenning, the seat of Mr Tregear, Frank’s father, was close to the borough of Polpenno,—­so close that the gates of the grounds opened into the town.  As Silverbridge had told his father, many of the Tregear family had sat for the borough.  Then there had come changes, and strangers had made themselves welcome by their money.  When the vacancy had occurred a deputation waited upon Squire Tregear and asked him to stand.  The deputation would guarantee that the expense should not exceed—­a certain limited sum.  Mr Tregear for himself had no such ambition.  His eldest son was abroad and was not at all such a man as one would choose to make into a Member of Parliament.  After much consideration in the family, Frank was invited to present himself to the constituency.  Frank’s aspirations in regard to Lady Mary Palliser were known at Polwenning, and it was thought that they would have a better chance of success if he could write the letters M.P. after his name.  Frank acceded, and as he was starting wrote to ask the assistance of his friend Lord Silverbridge.  At that time there were only nine days more before the election, and Mr Carbottle, the Liberal candidate, was already living in great style at the Camborne Arms.

Mr and Mrs Tregear and an elder sister of Frank’s, who quite acknowledged herself to be an old maid, were very glad to welcome Frank’s friend.  On the first morning of course they discussed the candidate’s prospects.  ‘My best chance of success,’ said Frank, ’arises from that fact that Mr Carbottle is fatter than the people here seem to approve.’

‘If his purse be fat,’ said old Mr Tregear, ’that will carry off any personal defect.’  Lord Silverbridge asked whether the candidate was not too fat to make speeches.  Miss Tregear declared that he had made three speeches daily last week, and that Mr Williams the rector who had heard him, declared him to be a godless dissident.  Mrs Tregear thought that it would be much better that the place should be disfranchised altogether than that such a horrid man should be brought into the neighbourhood.  ’A godless dissenter!’ she said, holding up her hands in dismay.  Frank thought that they had better abstain from allusion to their opponent’s religion.  Then Mr Tregear made a little speech.  ’We used,’ he said, ’to endeavour to get someone to represent us in Parliament, who would agree with us on vital subjects, such as the Church of England and the necessity of religion.  Now it seems to be considered ill-mannered to make any allusion to such subjects!’ From which it may be seen that this old Tregear was very conservative indeed.

When the old people were gone to bed the two young men discussed the matter.  ‘I hope you’ll get in,’ said Silverbridge.  ’And if I can do anything for you of course I will.’

‘It is always good to have a real member along with one,’ said Tregear.

‘But I begin to think I am a very shaky Conservative myself.’