The exclamation was contemptuous. “It’s the highest we can aim at,” Beauchamp observed meekly. “I think I recollect you used to talk politics when you were a midshipman,” she said. “You headed the aristocracy, did you not?” “The aristocracy wants a head,” said Beauchamp. “Parliament, in my opinion, is the best of occupations for idle men,” said she. “It shows that it is a little too full of them.” “Surely the country can go on very well without so much speech-making?” “It can go on very well for the rich.” Miss Halkett tapped with her foot. “I should expect a Radical to talk in that way, Nevil.” “Take me for one.” “I would not even imagine it.” “Say Liberal, then.” “Are you not”—her eyes opened on him largely, and narrowed from surprise to reproach, and then to pain—are you not one of us? Have you gone over to the enemy, Nevil?” “I have taken my side, Cecilia; but we, on our side, don’t talk of an enemy.” “Most unfortunate! We are Tories, you know, Nevil. Papa is a thorough Tory. He cannot vote for you. Indeed I have heard him say he is anxious to defeat the plots of an old Republican in Bevisham—some doctor there; and I believe he went to London to look out for a second Tory candidate to oppose to the Liberals. Our present Member is quite safe, of course. Nevil, this makes me unhappy. Do you not feel that it is playing traitor to one’s class to join those men?” Such was the Tory way of thinking, Nevil Beauchamp said: the Tories upheld their Toryism in the place of patriotism. “But do we not owe the grandeur of the country to the Tories?” she said, with a lovely air of conviction. “Papa has told me how false the Whigs played the Duke in the Peninsula: ruining his supplies, writing him down, declaring, all the time he was fighting his first hard battles, that his cause was hopeless—that resistance to Napoleon was impossible. The Duke never, never had loyal support but from the Tory Government. The Whigs, papa says, absolutely preached _submission_ to Napoleon! The Whigs, I hear, were the Liberals of those days. The two Pitts were Tories. The greatness of England has been built up by the Tories. I do and will defend them: it is the fashion to decry them now. They have the honour and safety of the country at heart. They do not play disgracefully at reductions of taxes, as the Liberals do. They have given us all our heroes. _Non fu mai gloria senza invidia_. They have done service enough to despise the envious mob. They never condescend to supplicate brute force for aid to crush their opponents. You feel in all they do that the instincts of gentlemen are active.” Beauchamp bowed. “Do I speak too warmly?” she asked. “Papa and I have talked over it often, and especially of late. You will find him your delighted host and your inveterate opponent.” “And you?” “Just the same. You will have to pardon me; I am a terrible foe.” “I declare to you, Cecilia, I would prefer having you against me to having you indifferent.”