They walked on the terrace and found Haversham in the portable hut where he usually spent the day. He had been ordered by the doctors to live out of doors. Here he wrote letters, interviewed his tenants, and ordered the affairs of his estate and fortune. He was seldom alone, unless he wished it, for his friends treasured every moment they were able to spend with him. Peter and Marbury paused at the open side of the hut, turned, as always, towards the sun. Marbury, before they reached Lord Haversham, had time to tell Peter that his uncle did not like his health to be talked about. "What is the programme?" Haversham asked as they came up. "Eight meetings to-day, Uncle." Haversham tapped the paper he was holding: "You've seen Jordan's latest?" "We were talking about it," said Marbury. "What are you going to do?" asked Haversham. "Peter suggests we should post the constituency with a schedule of your stock on the home-farm." Peter glowered at Marbury, but a moment after felt amiably foolish under Haversham's kind inspection. "You don't expect me to believe that, Tony," said Haversham. "But, seriously, don't let your agent do anything of the kind. He'll probably suggest it." "I wonder." "It wouldn't do. If you were a Radical like Jordan you could tell them you owned the whole constituency. In a Radical it would show good faith and a likeliness to look after local interests. But in a Tory it is bribery and coercion. Your leaflet would be published in the London Radical papers--Another Instance of Tory Intimidation." "You see, Peter," said Marbury, "we shall have to be tactful." "Why notice the speech at all?" asked Peter. "Because we are electioneering," said Marbury. "We're not here for fun. My enemy has sent out a leaflet: 'Vote for Jordan, the farmer, and the farmer's friend'--the implication, of course, being that I am neither a farmer nor a farmer's friend. It's much more important in an agricultural constituency to destroy this delicate suggestion than to prove that there is an absolute need for a Navy Bill next session of over sixty millions." "Yes," objected Peter, "but the whole thing is so ridiculous." Haversham sighed: "That's what makes public life so hard. It is especially hard for our people. There's nothing we dread more than losing touch with our sense of humour. But these sacrifices are necessary. These sixty millions have to be raised, and only Antony will raise them." "You see, Peter," Marbury interposed, "the sense of duty is not yet extinct. Please look less incredulous. Then we'll go and talk to the farmers." "Why do you take me?" Peter grunted. "Why not take someone who really understands?" "I have set my mind on taking you," said Marbury finally. "But you must be less critical. You will hear me say some obvious things. Please understand that I am quite honestly accepting a public duty, and don't look as if you were infinitely wiser and better, because you are not."