Chapter XXV

IFthegods,whoscatterwitinsundryunexpectedplaces,sothatitissometimesfoundbeneaththebishop’smitreand,onceinathousandyears,beneathaking’scrown,hadgivenEdwardtwo-pennyworthofthatcommodity,hewouldundoubtedlyhavebeenagreataswellasagoodman.Fortunesmileduponhimuninterruptedlyheenjoyedtheenvyofhisneighbourshefarmedwithprofit,and,havingtamedtherebelliousspiritofhiswife,herejoicedindomesticfelicity.Anditmustbenoticedthathewasrewardedonlyaccordingtohisdeserts.HewalkedwithuprightspiritandcontentedmindalongthepathwhichithadpleasedamercifulProvidencetosetbeforehim.HewaslightedonthewaybyastrongSenseofDuty,bythePrincipleswhichhehadacquiredathisMother’sKnee,andbyaConvictionofhisownMerit.Finally,adeputationwaitedonhimtoproposethatheshouldstandfortheCountyCouncilelectionwhichwasshortlytobeheld.Hehadbeenunofficiallyinformedoftheproject,andreceivedMr.AtthillBacotwithsevencommitteemen,inhisfrock-coatandamannerfullofresponsibility.Hetoldthemhecoulddonothingrashly,mustconsiderthematter,andwouldinformthemofhisdecision.ButEdwardhadalreadymadeuphismindtoaccept,andhavingshownthedeputationtothedoor,wenttoBertha. “Thingsarelookingup,”hesaid,havinggivenherthedetails.TheBlackstabledistrictforwhichEdwardwasinvitedtostand,beingcomposedchieflyoffishermen,wasintenselyRadical.“OldBacotsaidIwastheonlyModeratecandidatewho’dhaveachance.” Berthawastoomuchastonishedtoreply.Shehadsopooranopinionofherhusbandthatshecouldnotunderstandwhyonearththeyshouldmakehimsuchanoffer.Sheturnedoverinhermindpossiblereasons. “It’sarippingthingforme,isn’tit?” “Butyou’renotthinkingofaccepting?” “Not?OfcourseIam.Whatdoyouthink!”Thiswasnotaninquiry,butanexclamation. “You’venevergoneinforpoliticsyou’venevermadeaspeechinyourlife.” Shethoughthewouldmakeanabjectfoolofhimself,andforhersake,aswellasforhis,decidedtopreventhimfromstanding.“He’stooignorant!”shethought. “What!I’vemadespeechesatcricketdinnersyousetmeonmylegsandI’llsaysomething.” “Butthisisdifferent—youknownothingabouttheCountyCouncil.” “Allyouhavetodoistolookaftersteam-rollersandgetglanderedhorseskilled.Iknowallaboutit.” Thereisnothingsodifficultastopersuadementhattheyarenotomniscient.Bertha,exaggeratingtheseriousnessoftheaffair,thoughtitcharlantrytoundertakeapostwithoutknowledgeandwithoutcapacity.Fortunatelythatisnottheopinionofthemajority,orthegovernmentofthisenlightenedcountrycouldnotproceed. “Ishouldhavethoughtyou’dbegladtoseemegetaliftintheworld,”saidEdward,somewhatoffendedthathiswifedidnotfalldownandworship. “Idon’twantyoutomakeafoolofyourself,Edward.You’vetoldmeoftenthatyoudon’tgoinforbook-l