Phineas Finn | Page 7

the business, let the
results be what they might. Lord Tulla was a passionate old man, and
the doctor expected that there would be a quarrel;--but he was prepared
to face that. He was under no special debt of gratitude to the lord,
having given as much as he had taken in the long intercourse which had
existed between them;--and he agreed with his son in thinking that if
there was to be a Liberal candidate at Loughshane, no consideration of
old pill-boxes and gallipots should deter his son Phineas from standing.
Other considerations might very probably deter him, but not that. The
Earl probably would be of a different opinion, and the doctor felt it to
be incumbent on him to break the news to Lord Tulla.

"The devil he is!" said the Earl, when the doctor had told his story.
"Then I'll tell you what, Finn, I'll support him."
"You support him, Lord Tulla!"
"Yes;--why shouldn't I support him? I suppose it's not so bad with me
in the country that my support will rob him of his chance! I'll tell you
one thing for certain, I won't support George Morris."
"But, my lord--"
"Well; go on."
"I've never taken much part in politics myself, as you know; but my
boy Phineas is on the other side."
"I don't care a ---- for sides. What has my party done for me? Look at
my cousin, Dick Morris. There's not a clergyman in Ireland stauncher
to them than he has been, and now they've given the deanery of
Kilfenora to a man that never had a father, though I condescended to
ask for it for my cousin. Let them wait till I ask for anything again." Dr.
Finn, who knew all about Dick Morris's debts, and who had heard of
his modes of preaching, was not surprised at the decision of the
Conservative bestower of Irish Church patronage; but on this subject he
said nothing. "And as for George," continued the Earl, "I will never lift
my hand again for him. His standing for Loughshane would be quite
out of the question. My own tenants wouldn't vote for him if I were to
ask them myself. Peter Blake"--Mr. Peter Blake was the lord's
agent--"told me only a week ago that it would be useless. The whole
thing is gone, and for my part I wish they'd disenfranchise the borough.
I wish they'd disenfranchise the whole country, and send us a military
governor. What's the use of such members as we send? There isn't one
gentleman among ten of them. Your son is welcome for me. What
support I can give him he shall have, but it isn't much. I suppose he had
better come and see me."
The doctor promised that his son should ride over to Castlemorris, and
then took his leave,--not specially flattered, as he felt that were his son

to be returned, the Earl would not regard him as the one gentleman
among ten whom the county might send to leaven the remainder of its
members,--but aware that the greatest impediment in his son's way was
already removed. He certainly had not gone to Castlemorris with any
idea of canvassing for his son, and yet he had canvassed for him most
satisfactorily. When he got home he did not know how to speak of the
matter otherwise than triumphantly to his wife and daughters. Though
he desired to curse, his mouth would speak blessings. Before that
evening was over the prospects of Phineas at Loughshane were spoken
of with open enthusiasm before the doctor, and by the next day's post a
letter was written to him by Matilda, informing him that the Earl was
prepared to receive him with open arms. "Papa has been over there and
managed it all," said Matilda.
"I'm told George Morris isn't going to stand," said Barrington Erle to
Phineas the night before his departure.
"His brother won't support him. His brother means to support me," said
Phineas.
"That can hardly be so."
"But I tell you it is. My father has known the Earl these twenty years,
and has managed it."
"I say, Finn, you're not going to play us a trick, are you?" said Mr. Erle,
with something like dismay in his voice.
"What sort of trick?"
"You're not coming out on the other side?"
"Not if I know it," said Phineas, proudly. "Let me assure you I wouldn't
change my views in politics either for you or for the Earl, though each
of you carried seats in your breeches pockets. If I go into Parliament, I
shall go there as a sound Liberal,--not to support a party, but to do the
best I can for the country. I tell you so, and I shall tell the Earl the
same."

Barrington Erle