’I allude to an article in the Bevisham Liberal paper; a magnificent eulogy, upon my honour.  I give you my word, I have rarely read an article so eloquent.  And what is the Conservative misdemeanour which the man of honour in the party is to pay for?’

‘I’ll talk to you about it by-and-by,’ said Nevil.

He seemed to Cecilia too trusting, too simple, considering his cousin’s undisguised tone of banter.  Yet she could not put him on his guard.  She would have had Mr. Culbrett do so.  She walked on the terrace with him near upon sunset, and said, ’The position Captain Beauchamp is in here is most unfair to him.’

‘There’s nothing unfair in the lion’s den,’ said Stukely Culbrett; adding, ’Now, observe, Miss Halkett; he talks for effect.  He discovers that Lespel is a Torified Whig; but that does not make him a bit more alert.  It’s to say smart things.  He speaks, but won’t act, as if he were among enemies.  He’s getting too fond of his bow-wow.  Here he is, and he knows the den, and he chooses to act the innocent.  You see how ridiculous?  That trick of the ingenu, or peculiarly heavenly messenger, who pretends that he ought never to have any harm done to him, though he carries the lighted match, is the way of young Radicals.  Otherwise Beauchamp would be a dear boy.  We shall see how he takes his thrashing.’

‘You feel sure he will be beaten?’

’He has too strong a dose of fool’s honesty to succeed—­stands for the game laws with Radicals, for example.  He’s loaded with scruples and crotchets, and thinks more of them than of his winds and his tides.  No public man is to be made out of that.  His idea of the Whigs being dead shows a head that can’t read the country.  He means himself for mankind, and is preparing to be the benefactor of a country parish.’

‘But as a naval officer?’

‘Excellent.’

Cecilia was convinced that Mr. Culbrett underestimated Beauchamp.  Nevertheless the confidence expressed in Beauchamp’s defeat reassured and pleased her.  At midnight she was dancing with him in the midst of great matronly country vessels that raised a wind when they launched on the waltz, and exacted an anxious pilotage on the part of gentlemen careful of their partners; and why I cannot say, but contrasts produce quaint ideas in excited spirits, and a dancing politician appeared to her so absurd that at one moment she had to bite her lips not to laugh.  It will hardly be credited that the waltz with Nevil was delightful to Cecilia all the while, and dancing with others a penance.  He danced with none other.  He led her to a three o’clock morning supper:  one of those triumphant subversions of the laws and customs of earth which have the charm of a form of present deification for all young people; and she, while noting how the poor man’s advocate dealt with costly pasties and sparkling wines, was overjoyed at his hearty comrade’s manner with the gentlemen, and a leadership in fun that he seemed to have established.  Cecil Baskelett acknowledged it, and complimented him on it.  ’I give you my word, Nevil, I never heard you in finer trim.  Here’s to our drive into Bevisham to-morrow!  Do you drink it?  I beg; I entreat.’