"Wait till it _does_ come to pass. Why, Richmoor and I very near came to quarrelling point because I would _not_ frame my opinions by his say-so. I have been looking into things a bit, Maude, more than I ever did before, and I have learned what I am not going to deny for anybody. I met Philip Brotherton of Knaseborough, and he asked me to go home with him for two or three days--You know Philip and I have been friends ever since we were lads, and our fathers before us." "I know that." "So I went with him, and he showed me how working men live and labour in such towns as Leeds and Manchester; and I am not going to say less than it is a sin and a shame to keep human beings alive on such terms. I do not believe any Reform Bill is going to help them; but they ought to be helped; and they must be helped; or else government is nothing but blunderment, and legislating nothing but folly. And I said as much to Richmoor, and he asked me if my son had been lecturing me; and I told him I had been using my own eyes, and my own ears, and my own conscience." "What did he say to that?" "He said, 'Squire, I do not like your associating with Philip Brotherton. The man has radical ideas, though he does not profess them.' And I said, 'I like Philip Brotherton, and I shall associate with him whenever I can make it convenient to do so; and as for his ideas, if they are radical, then Christianity is radical; and as for professing them, Philip Brotherton does better than that, he lives them;' and I went on to say that I thought it would be a right and righteous thing if both landlords and loomlords would do the same." "My word, John! Thou didst speak up! I'll warrant Richmoor was angry enough." The Squire laughed a little as he answered, "Well, Maude, he got as red in the face as a turkey-cock, and he asked me if I was really going to be Philip Brotherton's fool. And I answered, 'No, I am like you, Duke, I do my own business in that line.' And he said, '_Squire Atheling!_' and turned on his heel and walked one way; and I said, '_Duke Richmoor!_' and turned on my heel and walked the other way. Now then, Maude, dost thou think he orders my opinions for me?" And Mrs. Atheling smiled understandingly in her lord's face, and cut him a double portion from the best part of the haunch of venison she was carving.