Egerton.—“My old committee now vote for Jenkins and Whiggolin. And I suppose there will not be even a contest. Go on.”
“So my father and I are agreed that you must condescend, for the sake of old friendship, to be once more member for Lansmere!”
“Harley,” exclaimed Egerton, changing countenance far more than he had done at the announcement of Levy’s portentous visit—“Harley—No, no!”
“No! But why? Wherefore such emotion?” asked L’Estrange, in surprise.
Audley was silent.
Harley.—“I suggested the idea to two or three of the late Ministers; they all concur in advising you to accede. In the first place, if declining to stand for the place which tempted you from Lansmere, what more natural than that you should fall back on that earlier representation? In the second place, Lansmere is neither a rotten borough, to be bought, nor a close borough, under one man’s nomination. It is a tolerably large constituency. My father, it is true, has considerable interest in it, but only what is called the legitimate influence of property. At all events, it is more secure than a contest for a larger town, more dignified than a seat for a smaller. Hesitating still? Even my mother entreats me to say how she desires you to renew that connection.”
“Harley,” again exclaimed Egerton; and, fixing upon his friend’s earnest face, eyes which, when softened by emotion, were strangely beautiful in their expression—“Harley, if you could but read my heart at this moment, you would—you would—” His voice faltered, and he fairly bent his proud head upon Harley’s shoulder; grasping the hand he had caught, nervously, clingingly—“Oh Harley, if I ever lose your love, your friendship!—nothing else is left to me in the world.”
“Audley, my dear dear Audley, is it you who speak to me thus? You, my school friend, my life’s confidant—you?”
“I am grown very weak and foolish,” said Egerton, trying to smile. “I do not know myself. I, too, whom you have so often called ‘Stoic,’ and likened to the Iron Man in the poem which you used to read by the riverside at Eton.”
“But even then, my Audley, I knew that a warm human heart (do what you would to keep it down) beat strong under the iron ribs. And I often marvel now, to think you have gone through life so free from the wilder passions. Happier so!”