Notwithstanding the rather doubtful prospects of success which his supporters gave, Wauchope's reply was characteristic of the man. He accepted the honour and the responsibility all the more readily, it would appear, that it was accompanied by difficulties. After thanking the meeting for asking him to come forward at the next election, {111} he said he should be more than human if he did not feel deeply gratified. If he had been an orator, or if he had been a man engaged in public affairs, he would not have been surprised. But though he was an utterly untried man, he would do his best to try and serve, he should not say their interests, but the interests of the cause which they had all at heart. He was sure they would rally round the old flag--the flag of the Union. It spoke well for the future of Unionism throughout the land; and their native county of Midlothian had in this respect shown a good example to the rest of the country. They must never lose sight of the fact that this battle that was going on now was not a battle only in Midlothian, but it was a battle 'all along the line,' from Land's End to John o' Groats. They were only a mere part of that fight; and if it were a 'forlorn hope' here, it was of the greatest advantage to the great cause that they made a good 'forlorn hope' of it! He felt the responsibility very much to play the part of leader to them when they might so easily have got a better one. 'However,' he said, 'the choice is with you. I did not seek it, but shall do my best to come to the end of the business in a proper way.' Here it will be seen there was both boldness and modesty, confidence in the cause he was to champion, and self-reliance, without overrating his ability for the hazard. His opposition to Irish Home Rule and the possible disintegration of the Empire made him fearless, even to the extent of daring to oppose in person the great commander-in-chief of the Home Rule army. At this time he was home from Gibraltar for a short furlough, and with evidently no expectation of taking any prominent part in politics; and so, his term of leave of absence having nearly expired, he was unable to follow up {112} his nomination by any active movement. He accordingly returned to Gibraltar on 4th December. In January following he got, however, a further leave of absence from 29th January till 31st May, during which time he took full advantage of the opportunity. Though there was no near prospect of an election, he at once set about his canvass with all the characteristic energy of his nature, devoting all his spare time to addressing meetings of the electors in the various villages and parishes of the county. This preliminary canter over, he rejoined his regiment at Gibraltar in June 1890, leaving politics all behind him, and entering with fresh zest into his military duties. [Sidenote: Canvass of the Electors]