The Martins Of Cro' Martin Volume I Part 41

Ma.s.singbred walked along for some moments without speaking, and then said, "You knew Nelligan formerly?"

"Yes, we were playfellows together as children; lovers, I believe, a little later on--"

"And now?" broke he in.

"And now very good friends, as the world uses that phrase. At all events," added she, after a brief pause, "enough his friend to be able to say that you have wronged him by your suspicions. Joe Nelligan--or I'm much mistaken--may feel the inequality of his position as a something to overcome, a barrier to be surmounted; not as a disability to contest the prizes of life even with such as Mr. Ma.s.singbred."

"It is _you_ now would quarrel with _me_," said Jack, retorting her own words upon her. "And yet," he added, in a lower tone, "I would wish to have you my friend."

"So you can, upon one condition," replied she, promptly.

"I accept, whatever it be. Name it."

"That you be your own friend; that you address yourself to the business of life seriously and steadily, resolving to employ your abilities as a means of advancement, not as a mere instrument for amus.e.m.e.nt; determine, in fact, to be something besides a _dilettante_ and an idler."

"Is it a bargain, then, if I do this?" asked he, eagerly.

"Yes; I promise you the high and mighty boon of _my_ friendship,"

replied she, with mock solemnity.

"And so we seal our contract," said he, pressing her hand to his lips, but with an air of such respectful gallantry that the action implied nothing bordering on a liberty.

"And now I leave you," said she, as she opened the wicket-gate of a small flower-garden; "such conferences as ours must not be repeated, or they might be remarked upon. Good-bye." And without waiting for his reply, she pa.s.sed on into the garden, while Ma.s.singbred stood gazing after her silently and thoughtfully.

CHAPTER XX. AN ELECTION ADDRESS

"Am I behind time, Mr. Ma.s.singbred?" said Kate Henderson, as she entered the library, about a week after the events we have last recorded,--"am I behind time?" said she, approaching a table where the young man sat surrounded with a ma.s.s of letters and papers.

"Not very much," said he, rising, and placing a chair for her; "and I take it for granted you came as soon as you could."

"Yes; I have finished my morning's reading for her Ladyship, noted her letters, answered the official portion of her correspondence, talked the newspaper for Mr. Martin, hummed a singing lesson for Miss Mary, listened to a grand jury story of Mr. Repton; and now, that they are all off to their several destinations, here I am, very much at the service of Mr. Ma.s.singbred."

"Who never needed counsel more than at this moment!" said Jack, running his hands distractedly through his hair. "That 's from my father!" added he, handing her a letter with a portentous-looking seal attached to it.

"What a fine bold hand, and how easy to read!" said she, perusing it.

Jack watched her narrowly while she read; but on her calm impa.s.sive face not a line nor a lineament betrayed emotion.

"It is, then, an English borough he recommends," said she, laying it down; "and I suppose, looking to an official career, he is quite right.

The 'No Irish need apply' might be inscribed over Downing Street; but is that altogether your view?"

"I scarcely know what I project as yet," said he. "I have no career!"

"Well, let us plan one," replied she, crossing her arms on the table, and speaking with increased earnestness. "The Martins have offered you Oughterard--" He nodded, and she went on: "And, as I understand it, very much on _your_ own conditions?"

"That is to say, I'm not to damage the Tories more than I can help, nor to help the Radicals more than I must."

"Is there any designation for the party you will thus belong to?" asked she.

"I 'm not exactly sure that there is; perhaps they 'd call me a Moderate Whig."

"That sounds very nice and commonplace, but I don't like it. These are not times for moderation; nor would the part suit _you!_"

"You think so?"

"I'm certain of it. You have n't got habits of discipline to serve with a regular corps; to do anything, or be anything, you must command a partisan legion--"

"You're right there; I know that," broke he in.

"I don't mean it as flattery, but rather something a little bordering on the reverse," said she, fixing her eyes steadfastly on him; "for, after all, there is no great success--I mean, no towering success--to be achieved by such a line; but as I feel that you 'll not work--"

"No; of that be a.s.sured!"

"Then there are only secondary rewards to be won."

"You certainly do not overestimate me!" said Jack, trying to seem perfectly indifferent.

"I have no desire to underrate your abilities," said she, calmly; "they are very good ones. You have great fluency,--great 'variety,' as Grattan would call it,--an excellent memory, and a most amiable self-possession."

"By Jove!" said he, reddening slightly, "you enumerate my little gifts with all the accuracy of an appraiser!"

"Then," resumed she, not heeding his interruption, "you have abundance of what is vulgarly styled 'pluck,' and which is to courage what _esprit_ is to actual wit; and, lastly, you are a proficient in that readiness which the world always accepts for frankness."

"You were right to say that you intended no flattery!" said he, with an effort to laugh.

"I want to be truthful," rejoined she, calmly. "No praise of mine--however high it soared, or however lavishly it was squandered--could possibly raise you in your own esteem. The governess may perform the part of the slave in the triumphal chariot, but could not aspire to put the crown on the conqueror!"

"But I have not conquered!" said Jack.

"You may, whenever you enter the lists; you must, indeed, if you only care to do so. Go in for an Irish borough," said she, with renewed animation. "Arm yourself with all the popular grievances; there is just faction enough left to last _your_ time. Discuss them in your own way, and my word for it, but you 'll succeed. It will be such a boon to the House to hear a gentlemanlike tone on questions which have always been treated in coa.r.s.er guise. For a while you 'll have no imitators, and can sneer at the gentry and extol the 'people' without a compet.i.tor. Now and then, too, you can a.s.sail the Treasury benches, where your father is sitting; and nothing will so redound to your character for independence."

"Why, where, in Heaven's name," cried Jack, "have you got up all this?

What and how do you know anything of party and politics?"

"Have I not been studying 'Hansard' and the files of the 'Times' for the last week by your directions? Have I not read lives of all the ill.u.s.trious prosers you gave me to look through? And is it very wonderful if I have learned some of the secrets of this success, or that I should 'get up' my 'politics' as rapidly as you can your 'principles'?"

"I wish I was even sure that I had done so," said Jack, laughing; "for this same address is puzzling me sadly! Now here, for instance," and he read aloud: "'While steadfastly upholding the rights of property, determined to maintain in all their integrity the more sacred rights of conscience--'Now just tell me, what do you understand by that?"

"That rents must be paid,--occasionally, at least; but that you hope to pull down the Established Church!"

"Well, come," said he, "the thing will perhaps do!"

"I don't much like all this about 'the Palladium of the British Const.i.tution, and the unbroken bulwark of our dearest liberties.' We are in Ireland, remember, where we care no more for your Palladium--if we ever knew what it meant--than we do for the 'Grand Lama.' A slight dash of what is called 'nationality' would be better; very vague, very shadowy, of course. Bear in mind what Lady Dorothea told us last night about the charm of the king's bow. Everybody thought it specially meant for himself; it strikes me that something of this sort should pervade an election address."

"I wish to Heaven you 'd write it, then," said Jack, placing a pen in her fingers.