--Of course we must ask him to stay with us." For
this happened during an interregnum, when the spare room was temporarily
out of use.
"Of course we must do nothing of the kind. Your brother will need the
best rooms Bath's can give him; and when he's not actually on the
hustings, he'll be hobnobbing in the bar, standing as many drinks as
there are throats in the crowd," gave back Mahony, who had the lowest
possible opinion of colonial politics.
"Well, at least I can write and tell him how delighted we are," said
Polly, not to be done.
"Find out first, my dear, if there's any truth in the report. I can
hardly think John would have left us in the dark to this extent."
But John corroborated the news; and, in the letter Polly read out a week
later, announced the opening of his campaign for the coming month.
I SHALL FEEL MUCH OBLIGED TO YOUR HUSBAND IF HE WILL MEANWHILE EXERT HIS
INFLUENCE ON MY BEHALF. HE IS NO DOUBT ACQUAINTED PROFESSIONALLY WITH
MANY OF THE LEADING SQUATTERS ROUND BALLARAT, WHOM HE CAN INDUCE TO
SUPPORT MY CANDIDATURE.
"Umph!" said Mahony grumpily, and went on scooping out his egg. "We're
good enough to tout for him."
"Ssh!" warned Polly, with a glance at Trotty. "Think what it means to
him, Richard, and to us, too. It will do your practice ever so much good
if he gets in--to be the brother-in-law of the member! We must help all
we can, dear."
She was going driving to Yarangobilly that day with Archdeacon Long to
see a new arrival Richard had recently brought into the world; and now
she laid plans to kill two birds with one stone, entering into the
scheme with a gusto that astonished Mahony.
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