"Thanks awfully," he returned, still standing there with his hands in his pockets. "You'd do it best in your own place, and I've no right to deny myself such a help."
Julia calmly considered. "I don't do it badly."
"Ah you're so political!"
"Of course I am; it's the only decent thing to be. But I can only help you if you'll help yourself. I can do a good deal, but I can't do everything. If you'll work I'll work with you; but if you're going into it with your hands in your pockets I'll have nothing to do with you." Nick instantly changed the position of these members and sank into a seat with his elbows on his knees. "You're very clever, but you must really take a little trouble. Things don't drop into people's mouths."
"I'll try—I'll try. I've a great incentive," he admitted.
"Of course you have."
"My mother, my poor mother." Julia breathed some vague sound and he went on: "And of course always my father, dear good man. My mother's even more political than you."
"I daresay she is, and quite right!" said Mrs. Dallow.
"And she can't tell me a bit more than you can what she thinks, what she believes, what she wants."
"Pardon me, I can tell you perfectly. There's one thing I always immensely want—to keep out a Tory."