"Well, now, Finn," he said, "don't you know that you've treated me
badly about Loughton?"
"Treated you badly about Loughton!" Phineas, as he repeated the
words, was quite in the dark as to Mr. Slide's meaning. Did Mr. Slide
intend to convey a reproach because Phineas had not personally sent
some tidings of the election to the _People's Banner_?
"Very badly," said Mr. Slide, with his arms akimbo,--"very badly
indeed! Men on the press together do expect that they're to be
stuck by, and not thrown over. Damn it, I say; what's the good of a
brotherhood if it ain't to be brotherhood?"
"Upon my word, I don't know what you mean," said Phineas.
"Didn't I tell you that I had Loughton in my heye?" said Quintus.
"Oh--h!"
"It's very well to say ho, and look guilty, but didn't I tell you?"
"I never heard such nonsense in my life."
"Nonsense?"
"How on earth could you have stood for Loughton? What interest would
you have there? You could not even have found an elector to propose
you."
"Now, I'll tell you what I'll do, Finn. I think you have thrown
me over most shabby, but I won't stand about that. You shall have
Loughton this session if you'll promise to make way for me after the
next election. If you'll agree to that, we'll have a special leader
to say how well Lord What's-his-name has done with the borough; and
we'll be your horgan through the whole session.
Pages:
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489