"It is very bad that you should have your arm broken, papa," said Clarissa.
"It is a bore, my dear."
"Of course it is,—a dreadful bore. But as it is doing so well, I am so glad that you went down to Percycross. It is such a great thing that you should be in the House again. It does give so much colour to our lives here."
"I hope they were not colourless before."
"You know what I mean. It is so nice to feel that you are in Parliament."
"It is quite on the cards that I may lose the seat by petition."
"They never can be so cruel," said Mary.
"Cruelty!" said Sir Thomas laughing. "In politics men skin each other without the slightest feeling. I do not doubt that Mr. Westmacott would ruin me with the most perfect satisfaction, if by doing so he could bring the seat within his own reach again; and yet I believe Mr. Westmacott to be a kind-hearted, good sort of man. There is a theory among Englishmen that in politics no man need spare another. To wish that your opponent should fall dead upon the hustings is not an uncharitable wish at an election."
"Oh, papa!" exclaimed Patience.
"At any rate you are elected," said Clary.