'I will ask him if you wish it, certainly.' Ever since their marriage he had been teaching her,--intentionally teaching her, --that it would be the duty of both of them to get all they could from her father.She had learned the lesson, but it had been very distasteful to her.It had not induced her to think ill of her husband.She was too much engrossed with him, too much in love with him for that.But she was beginning to feel that the world in general was hard and greedy and uncomfortable.If it was proper that a father should give his daughter money when she was married, why did not her father do so without being asked?
And yet, if he were unwilling to do so, would it not be better to leave him to his pleasure in the matter? But now she began to perceive that her father was to be regarded as a milch cow, and that she was to be the dairy-maid.Her husband at times would become terribly anxious on the subject.On receiving the promise of 3,000 pounds he had been elated, but since that he had continually talked of what more her father ought to do for them.
'Perhaps I had better take the bull by the horns,' he said, 'and do it myself.Then I shall find out whether he really has our interest at heart, or whether he looks on you as a stranger because you've gone away from him.'
'I don't think he will look upon me as a stranger.'
'We'll see,' said Lopez.
It was not long before he made the experiment.He had called himself a coward as to the opening of the Duchess's letter, but he had in truth always courage for perils of this nature.On the day of their arrival they dined with Mr Wharton in Manchester Square, and certainly the old man had received his daughter with great delight.He had been courteous to Lopez, and Emily, amidst the pleasure of his welcome, had forgotten some of her troubles.
The three were alone together, and when Emily had asked after her brother, Mr Wharton had laughed and said that Everett was an ass.
'You have quarrelled with him?' she said.He ridiculed the idea of any quarrel, but again said Everett was an ass.
After dinner Mr Wharton and Lopez were left together, as the old man, whether alone or in company, always sat for half an hour sipping port wine after the manner of his forefathers.Lopez had already determined that he would not let the opportunity escape him, and began his attack at once.'I have been invited, sir,'
he said with his sweetest smile, 'to stand for Silverbridge.'
'You too?' said Mr Wharton.But though there was a certain amount of satire in the exclamation, it had been good-humoured satire.
'Yes sir.We all get bit sooner or later, I suppose.'
'I never was bit.'
'Your sagacity and philosophy have been the wonder of the world, sir.There can be no doubt that in my profession a seat in the House would be of the greatest possible advantage to me.It enables a man to do a great many things which he could not touch without it.'
'It may be so.I don't know anything about it.'
'And then it is a great honour.'
'That depends on how you get it, and how you use it,--very much also on whether you are fit for it.'
'I shall get it honestly if I do get it.I hope I may use it well.And as for my fitness, I must leave that to be ascertained when I am there.I am sorry to say there will probably be a contest.'
'I suppose so.A seat in Parliament without a contest does not drop into every young man's mouth.'
'It very nearly dropped into mine.' Then he told his father-in-law almost all the particulars of the offer which had been made to him, and of the manner in which the seat was now suggested to him.He somewhat hesitated in the use of the name of the Duchess, leaving an impression on Mr Wharton that the offer had in truth come from the Duke.'Should there be a contest, would you help me?'
'In what way? I could not canvass at Silverbridge, if you mean that.'
'I was not thinking of giving you personal trouble.'
'I don't know a soul in the place.I shouldn't know that there was such a place except that it returns members of Parliament.'
'I meant with money, sir.'
'To pay the election bills! No, certainly not.Why should I?'
'For Emily's sake.'
'I don't think it would do Emily any good, or you either.It would certainly do me none.It is a kind of luxury that a man should not attempt unless he can afford it easily.'
'A luxury!'
'Yes, a luxury; just as much as a four-in-hand coach, or a yacht.
Men go into Parliament because it gives them fashion, position, and power.'
'I should go to serve my country.'
'Success in your profession I thought you said was your object.
Of course you must go as you please.If you ask me my advice, Iadvise you not to try it.But certainly I will not help you with money.That ass Everett is quarrelling with me at this moment because I won't give him money to go and stand somewhere.'
'Not at Silverbridge?'
'I'm sure I can't say.But don't let me do him an injury.To give him his due, he is more reasonable than you, ,and only wants a promise from me that I will pay his electioneering bills for him at the next general election.I have refused him,--though for reasons which I need not mention I think him better fitted for Parliament than you.I must certainly also refuse you.Icannot imagine any circumstances which would induce me to pay a shilling towards getting you into Parliament.If you won't drink any more wine, we'll join Emily upstairs.'
