“He’s a Liberal to the backbone,” says Potts to Tucker.
“To the backbone!” responds Tucker to Potts. “The Colonel will do for us, Potts.”
“We want such a man, Tucker; the Independent has been crying out for such a man for years past. We ought to have a Liberal as second representative of this great town—not a sneaking half-and-half Ministerialist like Sir Barnes, a fellow with one leg in the Carlton and the other in Brookes’s. Old Mr. Bunce we can’t touch. His place is safe; he is a good man of business: we can’t meddle with Mr. Bunce—I know that, who know the feeling of the country pretty well.”
“Pretty well! Better than any man in Newcome, Potts!” cries Mr. Tucker.
“But a good man like the Colonel,—a good Liberal like the Colonel,—a man who goes in for household suffrage——”
“Certainly, gentlemen.”
“And the general great Liberal principles—we know, of course—such a man would assuredly have a chance against Sir Barnes Newcome at the coming election! could we find such a man! a real friend of the people!”
“I know a friend of the people if ever there was one,” F. Bayham interposes.
“A man of wealth, station, experience; a man who has fought for his country; a man who is beloved in this place as you are, Colonel Newcome: for your goodness is known, sir—You are not ashamed of your origin, and there is not a Newcomite old or young, but knows how admirably good you have been to your old friend, Mrs.—Mrs. What-d’-you-call’-em.”
“Mrs. Mason,” from F. B.