The fact of it is, I
really believe he's cost us a good many more votes than he's gained. All
he says is very well; but when he sits down one feels that our people are
all for what they can get out of it--and yours are prepared to give their
services for nothing."
"What's all this mean?" I asked, waving my hand toward the field.
Mr. Harrison looked at me very steadily indeed. Then he looked at Eve. I
can only hope that my own expression was as guileless as Eve's.
"I told you about that hint we were obliged to give Mr. Bundercombe," Mr.
Harrison went on. "I suppose this is the result of it. He seems to have
bewitched the whole of Little Bildborough. There's Jonas there, who was
due to speak in four places today--he will take no notice of anybody. I
walked by the side of his machine, begging him to get down and come and
keep his engagements, and he took no more notice of me than if I'd been a
rabbit!
"There's his cousin, who has more hold upon the nonconformists of the
district than any man I know--sitting under a hedge drinking out of a
tumbler! There are at least a score of men with their eyes glued on that
tent who ought to be hard at work in the district. I am beginning to doubt
whether they'll even be in in time to vote!"
"Well, we must be getting on, anyway," I said.
Pages:
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205