登陆注册
5223900000022

第22章

During breakfast he tried to be gracious, and condescended to ask a question about Prime Minister. Racing was an amusement to which English noblemen had been addicted for many ages, and had been held to be serviceable rather than disgraceful, if conducted in a noble fashion. He did not credit Tifto with much nobility. He knew but little about the Major. He would much have preferred that his son should have owned a horse alone, if he must have anything to do with ownership. 'Would it not be better to buy the other share?' asked the Duke.

'It would take a deal of money, sir. The Major would ask a couple of thousand, I should think.'

'That is a great deal.'

'And then the Major is a very useful man. He thoroughly understands the turf.'

'I hope he doesn't live by it?'

'Oh no, he doesn't live by it. That is, he has a great many irons in the fire.'

'I do not mind a young man owning a horse, if he can afford the expense,--as you perhaps can do; but I hope you don't bet.'

'Nothing to speak of.'

'Nothing to speak of is so apt to grow into that which has to be spoken of.' So much that father said at breakfast, hardly giving his mind to the matter discussed,--his mind being on other things.

But when their breakfast was eaten, then it was necessary that he should begin. 'Silverbridge,' he said, 'I hope you have thought better of what we were talking about as to these coming elections.'

'Well, sir,--of course I have thought about it.'

'And can you do as I would have you?'

'You see, sir, a man's political opinion is a kind of thing he can't get rid of.'

'You can hardly as yet have any confirmed political opinion. You are still young, and I do not suppose that you have thought much about politics.'

'Well, sir; I think I have. I've got my own ideas. We've got to protect our position as well as we can against the Radicals and Communists.'

'I cannot admit that at all, Silverbridge. There is no great political party in this county anxious either for communism or for revolution. But, putting all that aside for the present, do you think that a man's political opinions should be held in regard to his own individual interests, or to the much wider interests of others, whom we call the public?'

'To his own interest,' said the young man with decision.

'It is simply self-protection then?'

'His own and his class. The people will look after themselves, and we must look after ourselves. We are so few and they are so many, that we shall have quite enough to do.'

Then the Duke gave his son a somewhat lengthy political lecture, which was intended to teach him that the greatest benefit of the greatest number was the object to which all political studies should tend. The son listened with attention, and when it was over, expressed his opinion that there was a great deal in what his father had said. 'I trust, if you will consider it,' said the Duke, 'that you will not find yourself obliged to desert the school of politics in which your father has not been an inactive supporter, and to which your family has belonged for many years.'

'I could not call myself a Liberal,' said the young politician.

'Why not?'

'Because I am a Conservative.'

'And you won't stand for the county on the Liberal interest?'

'I should be obliged to tell them that I should always give a Conservative vote.'

'Then you refuse to do as I ask?'

'I do not know how I can help refusing it. If you wanted me to grow a couple of inches taller, I couldn't do it, even though I should be ever so anxious to oblige you.'

'But a very young man, as you are, may have so much deference for his elders as to be induced to believe that he has been in error.'

'Oh yes; of course.'

'You cannot but be aware that the political condition of the country is the one subject to which I have devoted the labour of my life.'

'I know that very well; and of course, I know how much they all think of you.'

'Then my opinion might go for something with you?'

'So it does, sir; I shouldn't have doubted at all only for that.

Still, you see, as the thing is,--how am I to help myself?'

'You believe that you must be right,--you who have never given an hour's study to the subject.'

'No, sir. In comparison with a great many men, I know that I am a fool. Perhaps it is because I know that, that I am a Conservative.

同类推荐
  • Another Study of Woman

    Another Study of Woman

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 百家针灸歌赋

    百家针灸歌赋

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 沈氏宣炉小志

    沈氏宣炉小志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 金刚寿命陀罗尼念诵法

    金刚寿命陀罗尼念诵法

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 纪效新书

    纪效新书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 漫威的恶作剧之神

    漫威的恶作剧之神

    穿越变成洛基之后干什么呢?漫长的人生实在太难熬,那就来搞事情吧!用小刀扎托尔的腰子,帮海姆达尔介绍对象,拐走地狱之王的狄丝七姐妹,偷偷撩拨海拉的小女仆,帮斗剑送爱情动作片,给绿巨人的内裤上剪个洞,在队长的盾牌上签自己的名字,把哨兵的药剂换成泻药,往斯塔克的盔甲里倒满痒痒粉……我,洛基,为所欲为! (本书锤基同人,随缘更新)
  • 复仇宝宝

    复仇宝宝

    凤儿死了?她怎么会死?孩子呢?应该还没出世吧?为什么凤儿死了也不肯见我,她是一直不肯原谅我吗?不要以为婴儿体小、不会说话就可以任你处置,要知道,出来混总是要还的,他们有一天也会幻化成复仇天使索命的……
  • 瑶石山人稿

    瑶石山人稿

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 九华殇

    九华殇

    凰灵州上,十大势力联手剿灭千年古宗九华门。九华弟子首席张景凡,执剑重生。张景凡跪在血水溪涧,对着崩碎的陨灵大山起誓。染我九华之血者,地狱三千,任其挑选。罗刹鬼间,随他魂归。
  • 战事传奇:战争中的隐秘事件和幕后谜团

    战事传奇:战争中的隐秘事件和幕后谜团

    有一种战争,没有硝烟,没有厮杀,杀人于无形之间,决胜于千里之外。这是另一种战争,它存在于战争的另一面,以无形的力量和隐秘的方式影响和决定着战争的走向。在这里我们能够看到战争背后的精彩和玄机。
  • 三世盛宠不负你

    三世盛宠不负你

    这一生,赢了天下,夺了江山,唯独负了你......前世我是你的丫头,今生我是你的王妃,来世定还做你的妻......我什么都不曾害怕,只是阴阳相隔,让我怎牵你手......我最大的劫,是忘了你之后还能再爱上你......于我,你就是天下......做我的女人,你可曾后悔?我这一生最无悔的,就是嫁给你!你若敢死,我便要整个天下为你陪葬!我为你戎马半生,你却终不愿放过我的女人。
  • 杂草修仙传

    杂草修仙传

    重生成一棵普通杂草,万人践踏,百兽吞食,如何成为大千世界的强者?
  • 白面丞相

    白面丞相

    偌大的南启皇城里到底藏着一段什么秘密,接连失火的阴华宫,扑朔迷离的线索,前朝公主的和亲之路,一本小小的《三番志》竟能决定整个西域存亡,姜归家手中的画笔有些颤抖……
  • 相公连连看

    相公连连看

    当医学院“女屠夫”遭遇古代“温良”腹黑男,一场非礼进行时火热上演……她,一手小李飞刀走遍天下无敌手,他,一张安良纯纯面具横扫遍地芳草,他,心狠手辣举世闻名,他,赫赫战功之下累累血债。后面一群美男追着跑,青芙一害羞就成百变芙蓉帝……
  • 神兽召唤师

    神兽召唤师

    小鲜肉救人穿越,成为一名最鸡肋的召唤兽法师,自身实力真的重要吗?只要跑的快,你能奈我何?看他如何将鸡肋变成凤头……战士等级:初级、中级、高级、青铜、黄铜、黑铁、白银、黄金、圣战士。法师等级:学徒、一级——六级、七级大魔法师、八级魔导师、九级圣魔导师。召唤兽法师:无等级区分。