How could it be possible for him not to
give way in such circumstances as those?
One day he found himself talking to her about himself, and speaking
to her of his own position with more frankness than he ever used with
his own family. He had begun by reminding her of that conversation
which they had had before he went away with Mr. Monk, and by
reminding her also that she had promised to return to her old
friendly ways with him.
"Nay, Phineas; there was no promise," she said.
"And are we not to be friends?"
"I only say that I made no particular promise. Of course we are
friends. We have always been friends."
"What would you say if you heard that I had resigned my office and
given up my seat?" he asked. Of course she expressed her surprise,
almost her horror, at such an idea, and then he told her everything.
It took long in the telling, because it was necessary that he should
explain to her the working of the system which made it impossible for
him, as a member of the Government, to entertain an opinion of his
own.
"And do you mean that you would lose your salary?" she asked.
"Certainly I should."
"Would not that be very dreadful?"
He laughed as he acknowledged that it would be dreadful. "It is very
dreadful, Mary, to have nothing to eat and drink.
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