A Political Wife

Chapter I

" When a gentleman comes With his trumpets and drums, And hangs out a flag at the Dragon. Some pledges, no doubt, We must get him to spout To the shopkeepers out of a waggon." It was not a market day, that windy 25th March, 188 — , yet the quaint old town of St. Oswalds was very* wide awake. The grey towers of the abbey, which had stood many a siege during the wars of the Roses, seldom overlooked a scene of wilder excitement ; in fact, had the Benedictines, so ruthlessly evicted by our Eighth Henry, revisited their ancient monastery, they would have felt serious misgivings as to the sane condition of the town's folk. B The day was most unpleasant. The wind, in gusts, came suddenly round corners, knocking the breath out of one, turning one's umbrella inside out, and making itself generally disagreeable.

Scraps of blue and of yellow paper, inter mingled with clouds of dust, whirled in the March air. An army of roughs, with their faces painted yellow, paraded the streets, whilst rival roughs had painted their faces blue. Smartly dressed women, their hats decorated with blue rosettes, drove furiously horses, like themselves adorned with blue ribbons. Rival ladies dashed past with yellow streamers and yellow rugs. Everyone was talking, some in a confi dential whisper in corners, others were apparently discussing pro bono publico. Everyone was hurrying somewhere. Blue or yellow flags floated from every window. Men, on ladders, were hurriedly posting bills, destined to be torn down by their antagonists, and vice versa. Huo-e yellow placards earnestly recommended the independent electors of St. Oswalds to vote for Mr. Wilkins, the true friend of the people ; whilst blue posters besought them to record their vote for Colonel Hammond, the staunch supporter of the constitution.

Needless to remark, a general election was the cause of this commotion. Colonel Ham mond, deservedly popular and universally respected, had represented the borough in the Conservative interest for many years, and was about to seek re-election. His opponent, Mr. Wilkins, was one of that numerous class of carpet - bag politicians, who, in the present year of grace, are shot out on constituencies by Radical wire-pullers. Wilkins had absolutely no connection with St. Oswalds or even with the eastern counties. He was chiefly known as having, during the last three weeks, dropped a couple of sovereigns in the plate of every dissenting chapel in the borough. He had made a vast number of promises of different sorts to each of the various bodies, whose representatives had interviewed, and catechised him as to his political tenets.

If he were elected, it could never have been said that he was in touch with the interests, or even cognizant of the affairs of St. Oswalds. At the best he could but follow the advice of the Radical wire pullers ; consequently he would become a mere delegate from the local caucus. A irreat feature of St. Oswalds is its large C__> *^> square market-place, flanked on either side by rival banks, and solicitors' offices. It boasts, moreover, of a Court-house and Athenæum, in which building, spite its name, the celebrated- St. Oswalds balls are held, where the aristocratic society of the eastern counties meet during the winter, to the delight of the leading townspeople, who thoroughly enjoy these opportunities of mixing with the countv magnates. On market days, travelling quacks draw up their waggons at either end of the said square, and from that elevated position, dis course on the various ailments to which flesh is heir.

They occasionally seize their patients by the feet, and planting their bipeds on a plank in full view of the crowd below proceed to operate on the afflicted portions of their frames, while the quack aide-de-camp drowns the cries of their victims by shoutino a description of their last specific, assuring ■> their audience that " this ere toiny box of pills would suit every known malady," and that anyone " as lays down fourpence" would find that " the box is his." On the eventful day to which we refer, the jugglers' waggons were occupied by another species of quack orators, namely, by the Radical leaders, who strove to vend their sham political wares with the same eagerness displayed by their predecessors, as regarded their pills. The Conservative Committee Rooms occupy a long, low building in the market place, between two banks.

During an election these usually quiet offices are the scene of much confusion, and on this special occasion men were trooping in and out of the rooms, each with cards in their hands, requesting explanations, which clerks were busily engaged in giving. Electric bells were ringing, telegraph boys arriving, and carriages were driving up to the central door, while outside a crowd of loafers were giving the police some trouble to keep order. Early in the afternoon a tall, dark man with a clever and somewhat remarkable face, was seen to cross the market-place on his way to the Conservative Rooms ; yet he wore a yellow rosette. Passing on rapidly, he stopped at the door of the office, where he was received with a perfect yell of derision by the crowd of blues standing about the entrance. He brushed past them, and at the top of the steps was met by the improvised election porter, who inquired what he wanted.

" Mr. Broughton," was his reply. " Mr. Broughton is out, but I will see who is in the office." The porter disappeared. While he of the yellow rosette waited, he naturallv glanced somewhat curiously at his enemy's quarters, and, seeing a glass door, looked in on a long room, in the centre of which was a green baize-covered table, surrounded bv clerks busily engaged in copying papers A ladv, seated among them, was writing a political squib, a young girl was standing opposite a row of pigeon holes, helping a clerk to arrange certain cards in alphabetical order. He hardly noticed her, for he was quickly summoned by the porter to the chief agent's room. If, however, our friend of the stalwart pro portions and commanding presence had had time to consider that young person, he would have remarked first that she was very young ; secondly, that to the rare merit of features of purely Grecian type, and hair of the red gold of which poets rave, was added an expression denoting intelligence of no mean order.

That she was divinely tall and most divinely fair, none could dispute, vet he of the yellow rosette had taken no heed of these various good points, and more was the pity. He had, indeed, thought to himself, "These artful Tory beggars have got the ladies well in hand, scribbling and working for them." The agent's clerk was a shrewd, sharp-eyed man, who kept his hand on a pile of important papers belonging to the chief, while he said — " Mr. Broughton is out ; can I do any thing for you ? " " Yes," was the reply. " The High Sheriff wishes to alter the hour of the count ing of the votes from 9 to 8.30, as this will be more convenient to him. This suits us as well, and I am directed to arrange with you as to this change of hour." "The only question with us," said the clerk, " is whether the ballot boxes can be brought in from the distant stations, where we expect a heavy poll by that time."

Our tall friend laughed good-humouredly as he said, " That remains to be proved," adding, " Will you give Mr. Broughton the message, and beg of him to communicate with the High Sheriff ? " " Very good, sir," was the clerk's laconic reply, as he bowed his visitor out. A few hours later the quack's waggon in the market-place was crowded by Radical orators. One among these, was making an eloquent appeal to a small group of working men employed in the town. The speaker was laying before them a most attractive socialistic programme. " The land, my dear friends, does not," he said, " practically belong to its present owners. It was pilfered by their grandfathers from your forefathers, the toilers of the soil. Return us to power, and we will sweep away those encumbrances who call themselves landlords.

For centuries they have ground down the faces of the poor, extracting their last farthing as rent, and with that rent in their pockets they live on the fat of the land, while you after a hard day's work have but a squalid home to return to." A feeble cheer greated this pleasant pros pect. A young girl had paused for a moment to listen on her way home from the Conserva tive Rooms. She looked furiously at the speaker, as the poison fell from his lips into the ears of the poor, ignorant men in tattered coats who stood around the waggon. The speaker was attached to the Liberal Office, and the tall, dark man who had inter viewed the Conservative Agent's clerk was nephew of an Irish peer. His name was Hugh Ravenswood. The young girl who had listened to the speech was Margaret, niece of Mr. Broughton, Solicitor and Secretary to the Conservative Committee.

Chapter II

'• A perfect woman, nobly planned To warn — to comfort — to command, And yet a spirit, still and bright, With something of an angel light." Margaret Broughton was ten years old, when she was sent home from Australia to the guardianship of her uncle, William Broughton, a solicitor at St. Oswalds, it accordance with the will of her father, who had appointed him her trustee and guardian in the event of her mother's death. . Margaret's father had entered a merchant's office at Sydney and married the only child of his partner, but he died suddenly. His poor widow never recovered the shock of his earlv death, and lingered but a few years after that event. Broughton was a peculiar man, equally distinguished, even among solicitors, for sharp practice, as among the townspeople for punctilious observance of the forms of religion.

There were amongst the latter ill-natured tongues who said that Lawyer Broughton would not have accepted the charge of his orphan niece had she been penniless. However that may have been, it is certain that he met his niece on her landingr in England and brought her to his home at St. Oswalds, providing her with a governess and supplying whatever was requisite for her maintenance and education, taking care, how ever, that no one should interfere with his management of the which constituted her fortune. The Broughtons had not always been solicitors. There is a fine old place a few miles from St. Oswalds called Belton Towers, which had belonged to the family for some hundred years. Mr. Broughton's grandfather was the last of the family who had lived there, for the old gentleman had squandered his patrimony on the turf, and the estate had been sold to pay his debts.

People said that Lawyer Broughton was gaining back by the turf the money his grand father had lost in racing and betting, for St. Oswalds being within a short distance of the Newhampton Racecourse, disputes between trainers and jockeys naturally found their way for settlement to his office. Gossips averred that his object was to purchase back the family estate, whenever it would be in the market. Nothing, however, was further from the keen old man's thoughts. Office work had become second nature to him. He had, it is true, a commodious house with a picturesque garden, stretching far into the country, flanked on one side by the ruined wall of the Abbey, and watered by the little river Stote. His household consisted of old-fashioned servants who had lived with him from time immemorial, and who, if they did not love, at least respected him.

Yet if any circumstance had prevented his taking his daily walk to the office, and back, the old gentleman would have collapsed. Every detail of his daily life was regulated with minute exactitude. He would sit watch in hand, waiting for the precise moment when he considered it to be his duty to summon his domestics to the morning and evening homilies he addressed to them for their spiritual benefit. His office was within the block known as the Conservative Rooms, the whole of which belonged to him. It was more from the force of circumstances than from any apti tude on his part that he had received the appointment of Conservative Agent. Manv were dead against it, calling him a dried up old stick, with a yard of red tape and a roll of parchment behind him, adding that a younger and more active man was wanting.

But then St. Oswalds had always been Con servative, had always returned a Conservative member for the borough, and no serious fear could be entertained that St. Oswalds would elect a Radical. And then the rooms were so convenient ; in fact, there were not any other rooms in St. Oswalds suitable for the pur pose. And so it came to pass, that when Mr. Broughton intimated that he would undertake the agency for the moderate stipend of a year, his offer was accepted. Although the old man was at heart a rabid Conservative, his real motive for offering his services to the party, was the consideration that the coming and going of all classes to the Conservative Rooms would bring grist to his mill, which surmise proved correct. It was indeed, fortunate for Margaret that her uncle's one craze was the education of women.

Not even the best efforts of a first rate governess were deemed sufficient by him to form her mind to his standard. Spite the expense carrying out his views might entail, he hesitated not to send his niece under that lady's supervision to Hanover, Florence, and Paris, not only to secure to her a proficiency in various languages, but to give her the opportunity of acquiring a certain knowledge of art. Music he abhorred, and Margaret, although possessed of an exquisite voice, could only acquire that much abused art under difficulties, as the old lawyer steadily refused to admit a piano into his house. He openly said that he hated women ; their chief occu pation, he added, was fiddling up and down A POLLTICAL WIFE. 15 the keys of a piano, in itself an utterly insane mode of spending time. Their brains, he asserted, ought to be given something to occupy them, otherwise they spent their time in running up milliner's bills for other people to pay.

The result of this somewhat peculiar edu cation was a highly cultivated mind, but the young girl was utterly cut off from all the softening influences which usually pervade an English home. Of society she had seen nothing, for although there were several families in the neighbourhood of St. Oswalds who had known the Broughtons in former days, and were interested in the orphan girl, vet the uncongenial nature of the old man, to say nothing of the pomposity of his manner, was a serious barrier to their intimacy with her. Margaret had a delightful sanctum, or rook's nest, as she called it, at the top of Percy Lodge, the name old Broughton had bestowed on his house in St. Oswalds. From the window of her eerie there was a view over the ancient ruins of the abbey, overgrown with Canadian vine and ivy- Behind these the sun had a delicious habit of setting.

Often in the twilight of a summer evening, this somewhat cold-mannered girl would conjure in her mind scenes of the past history of the Benedictine Friars, who had built the abbey and had dwelt therein for five centuries, records of whose lives she unearthed among the musty folios of her uncle's library. The lonely girl delighted to think of the bare-footed friars, with their brown cassocks and shaven heads, pacing the broad terrace leading to the refectory, of which a wall, broken by a window of exquisite tracery, still exists, and she loved to listen to the rush of the little river Stote, rippling and bubbling over its pebbly bed, as it rushed and rippled and bubbled in the days of old, while many a portly monk fished in its sparkling waters, chuckling with glee as they piled the little silver trout on the sward of their orchard, now her uncle's garden, and fat and well-fed were these Benedictines who secured for themselves the right of herring fishing alonothe coast of their shire, with various other privileges, and might well have joined in the refrain of the old song — ' Why I'm so plump the reason I'll tell, Who leads a good life is sure to live well.

What baron, or squire, or knight of a shire Lives half so well as a holy friar? " The walls of Margaret's sanctum were painted palest blue. These she had decorated after an original fashion, by old engrav ings so laid on the walls that they seemed to form part of the wall itself. There were, among these, some chef d'æuvres by Cochin, Moreau, and St. Aubin. Furthermore, she had collected quaint painted cabinets peculiar to the eastern counties, and believed to have been brought thither by Dutch merchants in the days of Prince Maurice, and Margaret had induced her uncle, when in a soft mood, to contribute a Japanese bronze, a Persian rug, a Cordova leather chair, and dark plush curtains to the general adornment of her rook's nest. Here she dreamt her own dreams, thought her own thoughts, lived her own life, far away from the massive mahogany furniture, and red C hangings of the great drawing-room which oppressed her with a sense of loneliness, she never experienced in her own cosy nook.

But all this time we are forgetting that Margaret herself is on her way home to meet the Conservative Agent and his colleague, who were expected at her uncle's house that evening.

Chapter III

" A pledge must be had, That since times are so bad, He'll prepare a long speech to improve them ; And since taxes at best Are a very poor jest, He'll take infinite pains to remove them." When Margaret entered the dining-room a substantial high tea was going on, a meal well known to all people engaged in electioneering. Mr. Broughton was discussing the political situation with two gentlemen, whilst the old butler was handing round cotelette a la soubise, worthy of Vatel himself or even Brillat Savarin. Whatever amount of self denial Mr. Broughton advocated in his homilies he evidently considered good living highly conducive to the safety of his soul. Both men rose, and Mr. Broughton introduced them to his niece. Mr. Francis was fair, blue-eyed, and gentle manly. He was attached to the Conservative party in London, and had been sent down officially to assist in the organization of the contest then going on in the borough.

His colleague, Mr. Holding, a clever speaker, was generally his companion on political missions. " We have, I may say, every prospect of success," Mr. Broughton was saying, with his usual pomposity. " I propose to follow pre cisely the same system with regard to this election, which has proved so successful in the past ; the candidate will canvass those persons who are most influential in the town, and will, in due course, address a meeting in the Corn Hall. We shall arouse enthusiasm for our candidate in the usual manner, that is, by means of his address, and posters, which will be distributed throughout the borough. I have no doubt that our friends, the electors will always maintain the rights of property and the inviolability of the constitution of the country, and will again support our popular candidate at the poll." ' But," said Mr. Francis, somewhat im patiently, " may I ask what your opponents are doing?"

" Yes, apparently they are extremely active, and have introduced a system of hole-and corner meetings everywhere, of which I highly disapprove. The place is flooded by Irish itinerant orators, and I understand that every man will be personally canvassed by their Committee, but I have no fear of the result." " Then you propose to allow the Radicals to carry out these tactics without an effort on your part to counteract them ?" said Francis, indignantly. " I propose to pursue the same tactics which have proved successful in the past." " Pardon me, Mr. Broughton, but modern Conservatism is as different to old Toryism as electioneering in the present day is, to what it was a hundred years ago, and to ensure victory at the poll a great deal more will have to be done, than is included in the programme you have just sketched."

HI FE. 22 " I have not ' the least fear," said Mr. Broughton, loftily. " A borough which has stood the test of so many contested elections is, what I should consider in my day, a safe seat." " Yes, sir," retorted Francis ; " but in your day, things were decidedly very different from what they are now. A man went to the hust ings with a ten-pound note in his pocket ; now adays he goes without his ten pounds, and with his convictions, not to record the value of his vote, but the value of his opinion, and that opinion must be educated and trained with great care. I understand that the Radicals are straining every nerve to pull this borough through, and that their plan of campaign is very complete." " Indeed, it is," said Margaret, breaking into the conversation. " As I was walking home through the market-place there was a dreadful man standing on a waggon, holding forth to about fist}7 people the most advanced Socialism I ever heard."

She proceeded to repeat verbatim the speech which had fired her indignation. Francis watched the intelligent face with interest, and saw at a glance that here was material, which might be turned to account. " Are the ladies taking any part in the con test ? " he inquired. "Alas, very little," replied Margaret, "so far they have confined their efforts to driving about with blue rosettes. I only wish there was an opportunity of bringing them into the fray. I can see that the Radicals are creep ing on, and are undermining our work." " You exaggerate, my dear Margaret," said the old gentleman, testily. " You imagine that a parcel of ragged loafers represent the whole constituency." " Well, Miss Broughton," said Francis, " if you can find for me seven ladies, able, and willing to undertake real election work, bring them with you to-morrow morning at ten to Mr. Broughton's office, and with his permission, I will cut out plenty of work for you."

Then turning to Mr Brough ton, he said, " To-morrow, with your help, I propose to recast your organization, start a number of district meetings, flood the town with canvassers and posters, organize even ing meetings in your big hall, have the Radical meetings thoroughly reported, and reply to every lie uttered by them at the same place next day." " Well, sir," said the old lawyer, some what drily, " these tactics are entirely new to me, and I must take time to consider your proposal, and I will let you know the result." " Now we really must go, Francis," said Holding, starting up and looking at his watch. "It is a good hour's drive to Meyboro' Schoolroom, and we are due there at 7.30 this evening." "May I ask what you are going to do to-night, Miss Broughton ? " said Francis, as they stood in the hall waiting for their cab.

" I have quite three hours' work before me. First, I must go about, and do my best to enlist your seven ladies in our cause. Then I have fifty government huts at the small arms factory by the Lock, each of which must be visited." " Good heavens ! ' exclaimed Francis, "surely you are not dreaming of venturing into those back quarters at this time of night ? " " What would be the use of my o-oinothere, when all the men would be away at work?" she replied. " Besides, I beg of you not to speak scornfully of the abodes of my special friends, for I am on very intimate terms with many among them." Francis looked at the girl with some astonishment, and, muttering an apology, stepped into one of the rickety flys, peculiar to antediluvian St. Oswalds. Margaret dashed up to her rook's nest, where she hurriedly scribbled some half dozen notes to various acquaintances, whom she hoped to enroll in her army of workers.

It was really a very difficult matter to select these. The wife of the doctor might be useful, as she knew so many in the town, but she never had been known to speak above a stage whisper, and was much sat upon by her husband, who attended half the notabilities in the neighbourhood, and got the best shooting to be had. Then there was Miss Shakerly, a maiden lady, who wrote pamphlets, and the Miss Austens, who were district visitors, and Mrs. Beale, the insurance agent's wife, who, spite a delicate husband and a host of children, managed to do the work of three ordinary women — always ready for a bazaar, mothers' meeting, hospital committee, soup kitchen, tea party, to say nothing of croquet matches, lawn tennis tournaments, and cricket entertain ments. She was, moreover, a staunch Con servative, and would evidently be Margarefs sheet anchor.

Then there were the irrepressible Miss Smiths, ever ready to bring themselves before the world, and a few others who might form a rear guard if wanted at the last. Having got through these notes, Margaret started, accompanied by her uncle's clerk. After a brisk walk of half-an-hour, they arrived at a rough common on the outskirts of the town, where it became necessary to light a lantern. It was a wild, desolate spot ; so rough was the road that walking became a fatiguing task. The government huts consisted of rows of black, dismal abodes. There was a poverty-stricken look about the place, for government had not sent regular orders for some time, and the people were pinched for want of work. True it was that there were a certain amount of standing orders on hand, but what are three days' earnings for a labourer who can work six ?

A few of the factory men were standing outside the huts as Margaret and her escort approached, and they certainly looked as though they would be likely to vote for any thing or anybody who would improve their condition. The clerk held the lantern as Margaret tapped at the first door. A little wizened woman in an old velveteen dress, originally black, but grey with age, pinned round her shrunken form, hurried out from the back kitchen, exclaiming — " You'll plaze to walk in, moy dare." " I'm sorry I cannot," replied Margaret ; " I only wanted to know if your husband will be able to come to the poll on Monday and vote for Colonel Hammond ?" " Now, that I'm sure he'll not be able to do, for he've been a-bed these three days with the most drefful cough as ever I heard. He fare reg'lar to bark like a dawg, and Oi never get a wink o' sleep a-noights.

Billy's bad, too. Com you hare, Billy," as a dirty little urchin tumbled out from the back premises. " I declare it's more than one woman's work to kape that boy's nose droy," and she pro ceeded to operate on that offending organ, while her victim kicked and screamed. " I am really sorry for you, Mrs. MacCagan. As soon as the election is over I will send you some wine and soup. You know I can do nothing just now." Before the next hut stood an impudent looking fellow, his arms akimbo, and smoking a short clay pipe. Margaret went straight up to him, and was about to proffer her request when he began in a surly voice to address her. " I know'd whot you've com arter, miss ; you've com arter my vote. How many more are there of you a-coming, for I've had half a-dozen besides you here to-day?" This speech was not very encouraging to Margaret, who replied, calmly — " I have come because your opinion and not your vote is so important, and because I want to persuade you to vote for Colonel Hammond, who has his heart and all his A POLITLCAL WIFE. 29 interests in St. Oswalds, and will do his best to promote trade in the country districts and benefit the poor of this place.

He certainly cannot promise to shower sovereigns upon you, but he does promise to do everything in his power to help you and your families. On the other hand, Mr. Wilkins has come down with magnificent promises to catch your votes, and as soon as he has secured them he will be off by the next train, because he has no con nection with St. Oswalds." " So you havn't com down to catch moy vote, miss, but moy opinion," said the man ; "and then moy opinion I'll give to you or anyone as cares to hev' it, but moy vote I'll give to Mr. Wilkins, so that's for you plump and plain," after which he moved away sulkily. " Well," said Margaret, in reply, " I hope he'll do for the poor of St. Oswalds all that Colonel Hammond has done. I hope he will build ragged schools, and put in the bank for the relieving officer every winter, and find work for the unemployed."