'There's no doubt about it, sir,' said Arthur, speaking in a low but almost angry voice.They were not in a room by themselves, but in a recess which separated them from the room.'I don't know that I want to talk about it, but to me it is one of those things for which there is no remedy.When a man loses his leg, he hobbles on, and sometimes has a good time of it at last;--but there he is, without a leg.'
'It wasn't my fault, Arthur.'
'There has been no fault but my own.I went in for the running, and got distanced.That's simply all about it, and there's no more to be said.'
'You ain't surprised that I should wish to see you.'
'I'm ever so much obliged.I think it's very kind of you.'
'I can't go in for a new life as you can.I can't take up politics and Parliament.It's too late for me.'
'I'm going to.There's a bill coming on this very night that I'm interested about.You mustn't be angry if I rush off a little before ten.We are going to lend money to the parishes on the security of the rates for draining bits of common land.Then we shall sell the land and endow the unions, so as to lessen the poor rates, and increase the cereal products of the country.We think we can bring 300,000 acres under the plough in three years, which now produce almost nothing, and in five years would pay all the expenses.Putting the value of the land at 25 pounds an acre, which is low, we shall have created property to the value of seven million and a half.That's something, you know.'
'Oh, yes,' said Mr Wharton, who felt himself quite unable to follow with any interest the aspirations of the young legislator.
'Of course it's complicated,' continued Arthur, 'but when you come to look into it it comes out clear enough.It is one of the instances of the omnipotence of capital.Parliament can do such a thing, not because it has any creative power of its own, but because it has the command of unlimited capital.' Mr Wharton looked at him, sighing inwardly as he reflected that unrequited love should have brought a clear-headed young barrister into mists so thick and labyrinths so mazy as these.'A very good beef-steak indeed,' said Arthur; 'I don't know when I ate a better one.Thank you, no;--I'll stick to the claret.' Mr Wharton had offered him Madeira.'Claret and brown meat always go well together.Pancake? I don't object to a pancake.Apancake's a very good thing.Now would you believe it, sir; they can't make a pancake at the House.'
'And yet they sometimes fall very flat too,' said the lawyer, making a real lawyer's joke.
But Mr Wharton still had something to say, though he hardly knew how to say it.'You must come and see us at the Square after a bit.'
'Oh;--of course.'
'I wouldn't ask you to dine here to-day, because I thought we should be less melancholy here;--but you mustn't cut us altogether.You haven't seen Everett since you've been in town?'
'No, sir.I believe he lives a good deal,--a good deal with--Mr Lopez.There was a little row down at Silverbridge.Of course it will wear off, but just at present his lines and my lines don't converge.'
'I'm very unhappy about him, Arthur.'
'There's nothing the matter?'
'My girl has married that man.I've nothing to say against him;--but of course it wasn't to my taste, and I feel it as a separation.And now Everett has quarrelled with me.'
'Quarrelled with you!'