He replied very weakly,--of course,
not justifying himself, but declaring that as he had gone so far he
must go further. He must vote for the measure now. Both his chief and
Barrington Erle proved, or attempted to prove, that he was wrong in
this. Of course he would not speak on the measure, and his vote for
his party would probably be allowed to pass without notice. One or
two newspapers might perhaps attack him; but what public man cared
for such attacks as those? His whole party would hang by him, and in
that he would find ample consolation. Phineas could only say that he
would think of it;--and this he said in so irresolute a tone of voice
that all the men then present believed that he was gained. The two
ladies, however, were of a different opinion. "In spite of anything
that anybody may say, he will do what he thinks right when the time
comes," said Laura to her father afterwards. But then Lady Laura had
been in love with him,--was perhaps almost in love with him still.
"I'm afraid he is a mule," said Lady Cantrip to her husband. "He's
a good mule up a hill with a load on his back," said his lordship.
"But with a mule there always comes a time when you can't manage
him," said Lady Cantrip. But Lady Cantrip had never been in love with
Phineas.
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