THE LIFE OF A SPORTSMAN 335 



Richard Hartley, whose fine seat was in the neighbour- 

 hood, and the following was the result of the interview : 



" Glad to see you at Wortham," said Sir Richard ; 

 "your father seems bent upon your being in Parliament, 

 and on our borough becoming vacant, wrote to me to know 

 whether you, as a friend and nominee of mine, would walk 

 over the course. I told him, in reply, I thought you 

 would ; and as to my interest, he made sure of that, on 

 the score of our mutual regard. I have, however, since 

 learnt that an eminent sugar-baker in the city has a mind 

 to aspire to the honour ; and, as he is full of money, he 

 may, perhaps, cause us some trouble." 



" My father has told me as much by letter," replied 

 Frank Raby ; " and I must say I am somewhat surprised 

 at his avowal of being prepared to spend money for my 

 return to Parliament, for which I have no desire, and, 

 moreover, I fear I should be of little service to my 

 country when I am there, having no turn for politics." 



"You will not stand alone in that respect," observed 

 Sir Richard, " for the business of the country is, and ever 

 will be, conducted by a few ; but as the effects of a good 1 

 education sometimes shine brilliantly when least expected, 

 I see no reason why you are not to take your part in the- 

 business of this great country. Your poor uncle Beau- 

 mont would have made a first-rate statesman, if he could 

 have aroused himself into action ; but want of energy is 

 not your failing." 



" Not in pursuits congenial to my taste," replied Raby ; 

 " no man works harder than I do in the hunting season, 

 but I should not like to be shut up in the House till four 

 o'clock in the morning, and, perhaps, be put on a com- 

 mittee the same day. Then only fancy half a dozen 

 calls of the House in the very best part of the hunting 

 season ! " 



To cut the matter short, we will at once proceed to the 

 nomination day, and, politics being inadmissible here, 

 merely give an outline of the proceedings, and jump at 

 once to the result. On a show of hands, a majority 

 appeared for Mr. Raby ; but the sugar-baker demanding 

 a poll, instantly addressed the electors, and with no small 

 effect. He not only promised them everything that ?* 

 member of Parliament could obtain for them, but, of 

 course, a great deal more ; and what was left undone by 

 his puree, he endeavoured to effect by his tongue. And 



