“Tolerably well; leaving a good deal of froth and scum, however.  The worst of it was that, in the very week when those makebates had departed, there came down on us a second plague, in the shape of Mrs. Hitchin, the apostle of—­I don’t quite know what, but she calls it Purity.  Of course, you know her by repute.  She, too, had the Public Hall, and gave addresses to which only women were admitted.  I have a very strong opinion as to the tendency of those addresses, and if Rabelais had come to life among us just then—­ but never mind.  The fact is, old Polterham got into a thoroughly unwholesome condition, and we’re anything but right yet.  Perhaps a little honest fighting between Liberal and Tory may help to clear the air.—­Well, now, that brings me to what I really wish to talk about.  To tell you the truth, I don’t feel half satisfied with what I have done.  My promise to stand, you know, was only conditional, and I think I must get out of it.”

“Why?”

“Mary was rather tickled with the idea at first; naturally she had no objection to be Mrs. M.P., and she persuaded herself that I was just the man to represent Polterham.  I felt rather less sure of it, and now I am getting pretty well convinced that I had better draw back before I make a fool of myself.”

“What about your chances?  Is there any hope of a majority?”

“That’s more than I can tell you.  The long-headed men, like your Uncle Sam (an unwilling witness) and Edward Coke, say that the day has come for the Liberals.  I don’t know, but I suspect that a really brisk and popular man might carry it against either of the Welwyn-Bakers.  That fellow Hugh will never do—­by the way, that might be the beginning of an election rhyme!  He’s too much of a blackguard, and nowadays, you know, even a Tory candidate must preserve the decencies of life.”

Denzil mused, and muttered something. indistinct.

“Now listen,” pursued the speaker, shifting about in his chair.  “What I want to say is this:  why shouldn’t you come forward?”

Quarrier pursed his lips, knit his brows, and grunted.

“I am very serious in thinking that you might be the best man we could find.”

And Mr. Liversedge went on to exhibit his reasons at some length.  As he listened, Denzil became restless, crossing and recrossing his legs, spreading his shoulders, smiling, frowning, coughing; and at length he jumped up.

“Look here, Toby!” he exclaimed, “is this a self-denying ordinance? have you and Molly put your heads together to do me what you think a good turn?”

“I haven’t spoken to her, I assure you.  I am sincere in saying that I don’t wish to go through with it.  And I should be right heartily glad to see you come out instead.”

The face of the younger man worked with subdued excitement.  There was a flush in his cheeks, and he breathed rapidly.  The emotion that possessed him could not be altogether pleasurable, for at moments he cast his eyes about him with a pained, almost a desperate look.  He walked up and down with clenched fist, occasionally digging himself in the side.